“My mum is a proper warrior” - Raheem Sterling opens up on why his mother stopped him from joining ‘biggest club in London’ Arsenal at the age of 10

Raheem Sterling has explained why his mother prevented a move to Arsenal's academy during his childhood. The England international opened up about his decision to join Queens Park Rangers at the age of 10.

The Gunners signed Sterling this summer on a season-long loan from Chelsea after Blues boss Enzo Maresca made it clear that he would receive no game time at the club.

Sterling made his debut for Arsenal last weekend (September 15) in their north London derby win against Tottenham Hotspur. The England international came on for a brief cameo after replacing Gabriel Martinelli in the 80th minute.

Sterling moved from Queens Park Rangers to Liverpool's youth setup back in 2010 and the winger got his first taste of top-flight football at Anfield. He went on to become a Premier League star, playing for the Merseysiders, Manchester City, Chelsea, and now Arsenal.

Speaking about his mother's decision to snub the Gunners, Sterling said (via GIVEMESPORT):

"When I was 10 or 11, I was getting scouted by some big clubs in London. Fulham wanted me. Arsenal wanted me. And when Arsenal want you, of course you’re thinking you gotta go there. Biggest club in London, you know? So I’m running around telling my mates, ‘I’m off to the Arsenal!’"

"But my Mum is a proper warrior. She knows how to make it in this world. She’s probably the most streetwise person I know. She sat me down one day, and she said, 'Look, I love you. But I don’t feel you should go to Arsenal'. She said, ‘If you go there, there’s going to be 50 players who are just as good as you. You’ll just be a number. You need to go somewhere where you can work your way up.’"

"She convinced me to go to QPR, and it was probably the best decision I ever made. At QPR, they didn’t let me slip up.”

The Gunners will next face Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League on Thursday (September 19).

"An unbelievable piece of business" - Graeme Souness praises Arsenal for signing Raheem Sterling

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has lauded Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for bringing on Sterling on loan this summer. The pundit believes the England international is a great addition to the squad.

Chelsea signed Sterling from Manchester City in 2022 for a reported £47.5 million fee. The English forward failed to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge, scoring just 19 goals in 81 games since his arrival.

Despite his underwhelming form for the Blues, Souness has backed Sterling to perform for the Gunners and prove his critics wrong. The pundit said:

"Signing Raheem Sterling for the season is an unbelievable piece of business for Mikel, as much as it's a terrible piece of business for Chelsea. I would imagine Arsenal are getting a Sterling who will be angry and looking to prove people wrong."

The Gunners are currently second in the Premier League table, two points behind league leaders Manchester City.