'He’s won already': Jorginho backs Raheem Sterling to shine at Arsenal ahead of north London derby debut | OneFootball

The winger made a shock move across London on Deadline Day

Sterling moved to the Gunners on transfer deadline day, joining them on loan for the season from Chelsea, and could make his debut this weekend when Arsenal travel to Tottenham.

Arsenal are light on midfield options as Declan Rice is suspended, and both Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino are injured. Sterling could come into the team as a No10 or out wide and Jorginho is confident the 29-year-old won’t take long to adapt.

Jorginho played with Sterling at Chelsea, while the England international also knows the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz having played with them for club and country.

Raheem Sterling training with Mikel Arteta last week

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Sterling was bombed out at Stamford Bridge by new boss Enzo Maresca and had his squad number taken off him. Jorginho, however, is confident he will be a success at Arsenal and can thrive under Mikel Arteta - who he worked with at Manchester City.

“You know the club – especially Mikel and Edu with what they are doing – you know who they are bringing is just right, so something good is going to happen for sure,” Jorginho said.

“Then when you see there's a player that you know, that you played with and you know the qualities already, you know how they can help. You feel like you know how to give him the ball already, so you don't need to get to know him.

“I am honestly not there looking at the news and stuff like that, because it’s mad. It’s different now, there’s even too much information there, and sometimes it's not even true.

“It was the day of the game, I woke up and people [were talking], I was like: ‘What?!’

“Then we found out that he was coming, and he’s going to be great for us with his qualities. He’s won already, I think it was a good signing and I think he can add a lot to the team.”

Jorginho has impressed at Arsenal since joining from Chelsea in January 2023 and he signed a new contract back in May. The Italian has become a leader in the dressing room, while he has also begun working on his coaching badges.

The 32-year-old still has plenty of playing years ahead of him, but has opened the door to coaching when he hangs up his boots.

“Because of how I am and how much I love the, my friends back home, my family, since I was 18 or 19 they’re like: ‘You’re gonna be a coach’,” Jorginho told the Seaman Says podcast, via Betway.

Jorginho and Raheem Sterling in Arsenal training

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“I was like: ‘What? I have, like, 15 years to play. What are you talking about?’ Then the years passed, and I see how much a coach needs to work. I was like, no way. I know I want to be involved in football, of course, afterwards, but there is no hope that I will be a coach. No chance.

“Then I came to Arsenal and they asked me if I would like to do my badges. At the beginning I was like: ‘No, I don’t want to be a coach.’ They’re like: ‘Are you sure? Why not do it just to have it?’ First session, I fell in love. I was like: ‘Oh no, why did I do it? Now I’m in trouble.’

“I think I will go for it. I think so. To be on the pitch and be with the players, it was so satisfying. “When you see things coming out, working out the way you expected to - so good. Being on the pitch and actually seeing the potential there. It’s different.

“I think football is in a constant evolution and it’s going to be changing always. It’s never going to stop. It was different when I started, it was different in the middle, and when I’m going to finish, it’s going to be different.”