Raheem Sterling already has an excellent relationship with four Arsenal players after joining from Chelsea

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Despite only signing for the club days ago, Raheem Sterling already seems a very popular figure among Arsenal fans, who are anticipating his north London derby debut.

Kai Havertz has paved the way at Arsenal for Chelsea players making the move across London in search of a redemption story, and Sterling is intending to do exactly that.

The former Manchester City man has already won the Premier League four times in his career, and he’ll be hoping to add a fifth medal this season.

Sterling is taking the number #30 shirt in north London, even if some had imagined that he would be handed the #10.

The last five players to wear the shirt (in chronological order) haven’t necessarily been the most successful in the past: Armand Traore, Park Chu-young, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah and Matt Turner.

Raheem Sterling is already close with Declan Rice and three others at Arsenal

Standard Sport have now shared an article detailing how Sterling is planning to be fit and ready to face Tottenham on September 15.

And as part of their report, it was detailed that Sterling is already close with four players in Mikel Arteta’s current Arsenal squad.

READ MORE: Arsenal have removed ‘excellent’ player from their website before he’s officially left

As well as working with Arteta at Man City, Sterling also played alongside Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko – he won titles alongside all three.

Of course, although he’s not away with England this week, and hasn’t enjoyed the pleasure since December 2022, Sterling also knows both Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka well.

The trio played together under Gareth Southgate, who eventually decided to move on from Sterling given his indifferent club form.

Riccardo Calafiori should be the Arsenal signing starting the north London derby

Although Sterling will be available to face Tottenham once club football returns, it would be a stretch to suggest that the Chelsea loanee should start.

Arsenal will have both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli ready on the left, and Bukayo Saka is the first name on the team sheet on the right.

Therefore, Sterling will need to be patient for his chances, but the waiting game may now be over for Riccardo Calafiori.

Arsenal should start Calafiori in the north London derby, even if he’s not the obvious alternative to Rice.

The Italian has been brilliant in his short performances and can definitely manage the pressure that such an occasion brings.