Raheem Sterling sends five-word Arsenal message after Hackett’s ‘red card’ claim
Raheem Sterling stayed positive after his performance against PSV in the second leg of the Champions League, showing no signs of frustration despite recent speculation over his role at Arsenal.
Arsenal comfortably secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, drawing 2-2 with PSV on the night but progressing with a dominant 9-3 aggregate victory.
Oleksandr Zinchenko opened the scoring before former Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic equalised. Declan Rice had a humorous celebration aimed after putting Arsenal back in front, only for PSV to level again late in the match.
There have been claims that Sterling is devastated with his situation at Arsenal, but Mikel Arteta showed faith in him for the second leg, and he repaid that trust with two assists.
However, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that Sterling was fortunate to escape a red card after a late challenge on Johan Bakayoko.
Despite the controversy, the winger remained upbeat, sending a positive message to fans following the result.
| Season statistics | Raheem Sterling |
| Appearances | 23 |
| Starts | 10 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 4 |
Arsenal stars react as Raheem Sterling wins player of the match in Champions League clash
Sterling shared a positive message on Instagram after Arsenal’s draw with PSV, posting a picture of himself holding the ‘player of the match’ award with the caption: “Quarter Finals. Whole Team Effort.”
His post quickly gained traction, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber leaving emoji-filled comments, while William Saliba and Gabriel Jesus showed their support by liking the photo.
Sterling has struggled to win over Arsenal fans since arriving from Chelsea, but injuries in the squad have left Arteta with little choice but to give him minutes.
With Bukayo Saka and Jesus sidelined and Gabriel Martinelli only just returning from a month-long absence, Sterling was handed an opportunity against PSV—and he delivered, picking up the ‘player of the match’ award.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal ‘concerned’ over Raheem Sterling’s recent performances
It’s been a difficult season for Sterling, who has yet to fully convince Arteta. The winger has made just 10 starts across all competitions, accumulating only 953 minutes of game time.
Football Insider revealed that Arsenal are concerned over Sterling’s performances both on and off the pitch since his arrival.
However, with Saka still out and much of the attacking responsibility falling on 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, this standout display against PSV could be a turning point for Sterling’s fortunes at the club.