New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made it clear that Raheem Sterling wasn’t in his plans for the season.

Sterling has struggled to impress in two years at Chelsea, and Enzo Maresca had told Sterling to find a new club.

Mikel Arteta, who was Manchester City’s assistant manager during Sterling’s time at City, picked up the phone and offered Sterling the lifeline of joining Arsenal.

Arteta has backed Sterling to shine at Chelsea, and has revealed just how desperate the 29-year-old was keen on securing a move to Arsenal.

Arteta said: “The first call I had with him, I knew in the first ten seconds we have to bring him because he really wanted it. That was my only question mark: ‘What stage is he at in his career?’

“What I see is hunger. He’s a player that wants to play every minute of every game.

“You can feel it walking through the door. We are better with him. He’s going to make us better.”