Arteta says Sterling will get more game time at Arsenal despite slow start

Raheem Sterling has been dubbed the flop of the season so far after making only two Premier League appearances for the Gunners, but manager Mikel Arteta says the winger is still in his plans.

Arsenal winger Raheem Sterling Picture: AAP Image

The Gunners have had a mixed start to the new Premier League season with Arteta's men currently six points behind leaders Liverpool.

After a recent four-match winless streak in the Premier League, Arsenal have now won their last two matches convincingly against Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

That run of form has Arsenal fans believing again that they can take advantage of any slip-ups from Liverpool between now and the end of the season.

Arsenal made five new signings in the summer transfer window with David Raya completing a permanent move from Brentford after a season on loan, while Mikel Merino, Neto, Riccardo Calafiori and Sterling also joined.

But Arteta insists any underperformance has been "down to" the Arsenal boss and he can't fault the winger's "application and commitment" since joining the Gunners.

Speaking before Arsenal thrashed West Ham 5-2 on Saturday, Arteta told reporters: "I would like to see him more to be fair and this is down to me. He's trying his best.

"His application and commitment around the team has been exceptional and now it's time for me to give him more minutes."

When asked whether Sterling would get more of a chance in the coming weeks, Arteta added: "That's the intention.

"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."

On his side's performance against West Ham in general, Arteta later said: "I was happier with the first 30 minutes rather than the last 15 minutes of the first-half that's for sure.

"We started incredibly well, so positive, so much energy and a lot of quality.

"Immediately after we scored the fourth we conceded a sloppy one and an unbelievable free-kick and then it was game on.

"Thank goodness we scored the fifth and then that allowed us to play a different game in the second-half and manage it a lot more."

 


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