CITY HITMAN BACKED TO PROVE HIS NET WORTH

PEP GUARDIOLA is confident Raheem Sterling can end the goal drought which has seen him draw a blank this year.

The England ace last found the net against Wolves on December 27.

But Guardiola maintained that despite the hot streak that saw him score 13 in 20 games for club and country in the first half of the season coming to an end, his confidence has not been affected.

“Raheem is incredibly positive in the fact he misses one chance and tries again,” said the Manchester City boss.

“He has been injured as well and sometimes you need more time but he’s coming back.

“I don’t worry about these things. It’s like Ederson against Manchester United – it happens.

“But for the guys who suffer, the most important thing is that they have been supported or we at least try to let them feel that we are here for them.

“Sometimes you speak with them and sometimes they understand what they have to do.”

Sterling, 25, missed two Premier League games last month after picking up a hamstring injury and has taken time to get back up to speed.

He also caused some unease at

City by giving an interview to a Spanish paper just five days before City’s Champions League clash at Real Madrid.

He was pictured with a Madrid shirt draped across his shoulder (below) accompanied by some flirtatious comments about a possible future in La Liga.

But there is no better time for him to rediscover his form than against Arsenal at the Etihad tonight as Mikel Arteta makes his first return as Gunners boss.

Guardiola admits his former assistant returns with intimate knowledge of City’s weaknesses, given his three years as the Spaniard’s righthand man.

“He has more information about us than I have about them,” said Guardiola. “That’s normal, a huge amount of hours together. He knows the players, the way we play and he knows every single player. I can imagine the way he’ll press high.”