Mikel Arteta has taken responsibility for Raheem Sterling’s underwhelming form at Arsenal, admitting he needs to offer the loanee more playing time.
Sterling, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea on deadline day in August, has struggled to secure a spot in Arteta’s starting XI.
Nearly half of his minutes this season have come in the Carabao Cup, with the 29-year-old managing just one Premier League start so far.
His limited appearances include a cameo off the bench against West Ham, contributing to his muted impact at the club.
This lack of influence has drawn criticism, with Stan Collymore recently naming Sterling among the season’s biggest disappointments.
“Raheem Sterling has been a massive disappointment,” former Nottingham Forest forward Collymore told Metro. “He came in and said he was going to give the club his best work, but that hasn’t happened.
‘”He’s arguably stunk the place out so far and he’s definitely one of the flops of the season having promised to do his best work at Arsenal.
“He’s an experienced player who has won everything there is to win, he was expected to push the dressing room up another level and he hasn’t done that.”
However, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s dramatic victory over West Ham, Arteta took responsibility for Sterling’s limited opportunities.
The Spaniard acknowledged that the player was showing the necessary application in training and stated it was now up to him to provide Sterling with more playing time on the pitch.
“I would like to see him more to be fair and this is down to me,” Arteta added. “He’s trying his best.”
“His application and commitment around the team has been exceptional and now it’s time for me to give I’m more minutes,” Arsenal’s manager continued. Arteta was asked whether Sterling would receive more opportunities in the coming weeks. “That’s the intention,” he said.
“That’s why I put him on against Forest, that’s why I wanted to put him on against Sporting, now getting into that rhythm because he can really impact the team as well.”
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