Arteta plans more Sterling minutes, delighted by Odegaard impact
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After a late cameo against Nottingham Forest, which included an assist for Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling looked set for a second appearance in four days in the closing stages of Arsenal’s win over Sporting Lisbon.
The 29-year-old was stripped off and ready to replace Bukayo Saka with 10 minutes remaining when Mikel Arteta was forced to change his plans due to an injury to Gabriel Magalhaes. Sterling was sent back to the bench and Jakub Kiwior was given a run-out instead.
Having fed off scraps since joining the Gunners on loan from Chelsea, it was another moment of frustration for the England international. Luckily, he took the situation well and knows more opportunities are on the horizon.
Asked about Sterling’s reaction on Tuesday night, manager Mikel Arteta was happy to report there was “nothing” from the player, just “a smile on his face, fortunately for me.”
“It’s a thing that happen in football,” he added. “Unfortunately it happened to him and he reacted in the best possible way, which is understanding. He’s been a long time in the game and he knows that this is something that I cannot control.”
When Sterling made a Transfer Deadline Day dash across London to join Arsenal, he may well have expected more than three starts in the 15 games he’s so far been available for. While it’s an evolving situation, the manager empathises with the player.
“I would like to see him more, to be fair, and this is down to me,” said Arteta.
“He’s trying his best, his application, his commitment around the team has been exceptional and now it’s time for me to give him more minutes.”
With Arsenal facing eight games before the end of the year, it feels inevitable that Sterling will get more game time even if Bukayo Saka’s status as a starter goes unquestioned.
“That’s the intention, that’s why I put him against Forest, that’s why I wanted to put him on against Sporting and now get him in that rhythm because he can really impact the team.”
On the subject of impacting the team, the manager is delighted with the output of captain Martin Odegaard since his return from injury.
After an appearance off the bench in the defeat to Inter Milan earlier in the month, the Norwegian has started three consecutive matches against Chelsea, Forest and Sporting and already has his side playing with more attacking fluidity.
“Good players that are so consistent, so reliable that can take their game to a different level, make the players better around them,” reflected Artreta. “That’s a huge quality of Martin and, yeah, he’s been missed.”
He was also quick to praise the midfielder’s application during his recovery from ankle ligament damage.
“The way he prepared himself, how much work he put in with all the physios and the medical department to get in the best possible condition to face this period, the importance of the season that we are in at the moment, and to hit the ground running was exceptional. Since the Chelsea game, he’s been very consistent the last three games.”
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