Arsenal had no chance of signing Raheem Sterling in the summer according to Pep Guardiola who has been speaking about the rumours surrounding the player.

Arsenal had asked for Sterling towards the end of the transfer window as a potential replacement for Alexis Sanchez.

City, though, dismissed the idea completely.

Sterling’s current form this season shows us why. He has 13 goals in 19 appearances, including numerous match-winning goals.

City manager Pep Guardiola is happy with his form, and explained that they were very clear about his future.

“We were clear when ­Arsenal wanted him we said, ‘No, that’s not going to happen’,” Guardiola said.

“He’s still young and we hope to make him happy so that he can stay for longer.

“All the credit is Raheem’s. Of course I believe in him.

“But I also ­believe in the players who don’t play regularly – Ilkay Gundogan, Danilo, Bernardo Silva.

“I didn’t ­discover Raheem, the player he is. The quality is his ­talent. He did it at Liverpool.

“He played amazing and that’s why City paid a lot of money for him.”

Some initially thought that Alexis’s arrival at City would impact Sterling’s playing time and he certainly would not be having such a stellar season had Alexis arrived and taken his place in the starting line-up.

With a World Cup on the horizon, Arsenal would have been able to offer consistent playing time.

However, there is currently no motivation for Sterling to ditch City and come back to London.

Even if City sign Alexis on a free transfer in the summer, Sterling will surely fancy his chances of staying in the team and continuing his good form.

Sterling is reportedly in talks about extending his contract at Manchester City as a reward for his fine form this season.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will need to look elsewhere.