Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists he is ready to unleash Raheem Sterling despite the on-loan winger being dubbed one of the ‘flops of the season’. The England star is yet to find his best form at the Emirates Stadium.
Sterling has only played 146 Premier league minutes this campaign. His only goal came in a rare start in a Carabao Cup victory over Bolton.
But Arteta accepts responsibility for Sterling’s slow start since arriving on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day. His chance to shine could come in Wednesday’s crunch clash with Manchester United.
“I would like to see him more to be fair and this is down to me. He’s trying his best,” Arteta said after Arsenal beat West Ham 5-2 on Saturday.
“His application and commitment around the team has been exceptional and now it’s time for me to five I’m more minutes.”
That is despite Sterling being dubbed one of the ‘flops of the season’ by former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore. The 29-year-old has been accused of not delivering on his promise to work hard for the club.
“Raheem Sterling has been a massive disappointment,” Collymore told the 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.”
Sterling’s game time has so far been limited as he catches up to speed after a disjointed pre-season with Chelsea. He played in a couple of the Blues’ friendlies before being banished from the first-team squad by Enzo Maresca.
Having joined Arsenal, where he was excited to reunite with former Manchester City assistant coach Arteta, Sterling has found the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli selected more often on the left wing. Bukayo Saka is undroppable on the right.
Sterling can therefore hope to make an impact against United at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Arsenal’s form has considerably improved in recent weeks, with huge victories over Sporting CP and West Ham. How Sterling makes his way into an in-form team remains to be seen.