Raheem Sterling could come up against Manchester City for the seventh time since his bitter departure when Arsenal face Pep Guardiola's side at the Emirates on Sunday.

Sterling, 31, spent seven years at City after arriving from Liverpool for £44million plus add-ons in summer 2015. During his time in Manchester, he helped City win the Premier League on four occasions, the FA Cup once and the Carabao Cup five times. Overall, he scored 131 goals in 339 matches.

However, Sterling left City for Chelsea in July 2022 after growing frustrated with his game time under Guardiola. He was in and out of the XI during his final season at the Etihad, though he still managed to start 32 games. But it was a sense that Sterling did not feel "wanted" at City and that contributed to his exit.

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Speaking in August 2022 ahead of Chelsea's trip to Leeds United in the Premier League, Sterling told Sky Sports: "Everyone wants to feel wanted, football is no different. When you play your heart out, sacrifice some of your kids' birthdays, and then get treated in a certain way, it's disappointing.

"At the time I was fuming, raging, but it's gone, it's in the past and I can only focus on the present, which is now, here at Chelsea, and the opportunity I've got here to go out and showcase my talents once again."

Chelsea confirmed the signing of Sterling for £47.5m but he struggled during his first two years at Stamford Bridge. He scored 19 times in 81 appearances across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 season.

And before the start to this campaign, Sterling was frozen out by Enzo Maresca. He was not included in the first squad of the season to face Manchester City and Arsenal managed to secure his signature before the end of the window. He joined the Gunners on a straight loan deal until the summer.

Although Sterling has not been at his best since joining Mikel Arteta's men, he has the chance to prove Guardiola wrong and show why City should have kept him when the Gunners face City this afternoon. Sterling has not been a regular starter in the Premier League, so his impact is most likely to be made off the bench.