Last season Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger was linked with a move for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling.

Nothing came to pass as Manchester City spent £50M on the 20 year-old England international, with Liverpool complaining that he agitated for a move.

Sterling has caused Arsenal a lot of problems in recent years and, while he will be glad he isn’t facing him on Monday night, Wenger has stood up for the youngster and said Liverpool will regret selling him.

“I personally rate Raheem Sterling,” the Arsenal boss told the media. That much was already clear after his comments last season.

“I personally don’t think that Sterling was making a lot of drama, it’s just during the transfer window that that happened.

“During the season the boy was quiet, never made any stupid statement, I don’t think he made too much noise.”

Shortly before last season’s clash at the Emirates Stadium Sterling took it upon himself to have an interview with the BBC, unbeknownst to his club.

During the interview he admitted that rumoured interest from Arsenal was flattering but the Arsenal manager has also said that Liverpool have bought well to replace him.

“Will they miss him? He’s a quality player. But they bought Firmino, we will see what he will produce, he is a similar player.”

Firmino shone for TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga but is yet to be handed his first Premier League start by Brendan Rodgers, perhaps that could come on Monday against the Gunners.

No matter how talented, though, Sterling’s boots are big ones to fill.

“Let’s remember two years ago with Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling – they scored over a hundred goals,” Wenger said.

“Score more than a hundred goals in the Premier League, you need special quality to do that, and Sterling was part of that.”

Suárez has also moved on since that season and Daniel Sturridge, who will miss Monday’s clash, has been injured for the majority of the last year.

Without the two of them, Liverpool could have done with holding on to Sterling for one more year.