**Raheem Sterling has insisted he never lost faith in his ability despite his difficult spell at Arsenal.**
Sterling, 30, has struggled for game time since joining the Gunners on loan from Chelsea – where he was also out of the first-team picture.
But he took his chance to impress against PSV, setting up both of Arsenal’s goals in a [2-2 Champions League last-16 second-leg draw](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cn52qy3p1z4t) at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side, 7-1 winners in the first leg, went through 9-3 on aggregate and will face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
“It was nice to be out there and contribute to the team,” Sterling told TNT Sports.
“I know what I’m capable of. You just want to be playing. You are at a top club with top players and you just have to wait for your moment – and that’s what I’m doing.”
A booking means Sterling will miss the first leg of the quarter-finals because of suspension.
But boss Arteta was nevertheless pleased to see him make his mark.
“I was happy for him and for a lot of individuals as well that haven’t had a lot of minutes recently,” Arteta said at his port-match press conference.
“You could tell in the second half that we lacked physical capabilities to make certain efforts and to arrive in certain spaces in the right time, but overall I am very happy that they got the minutes and they responded.”