Raheem Sterling's Arsenal Struggles: Mikel Arteta Reveals Why He's Not Starting

Since joining Arsenal on loan from Chelsea in August, Raheem Sterling has struggled to find his rhythm under Mikel Arteta. While the winger has shown flashes of his potential, he has yet to make the impact many expected, spending much of his time on the bench or in substitute roles.

Arteta often talks about a “click” moment, where a player finally feels in sync with the team. For Sterling, that moment hasn’t quite arrived yet, but Arteta remains optimistic that it’s coming soon.

So far, Sterling has played just 340 minutes across all competitions, with two of his four starts coming in the Carabao Cup. In the Premier League, he’s only made two starts and has spent a lot of time on the sidelines. Despite this, Arteta has praised Sterling for his dedication and commitment, admitting that the blame for his limited minutes lies with him.

“I would like to see [Sterling] more, to be fair,” Arteta said. “This is down to me. His application and commitment have been exceptional. Now, it’s time for me to give him more minutes.”

Arteta’s comments hint that Sterling could play a more prominent role as the busy festive period begins. With eight games coming up in the next 28 days, it’s clear that Arteta will need to rotate his squad, and Sterling could be an important part of that plan.

Sterling’s path to more playing time has been hindered by a few unfortunate situations. Against Sporting Lisbon, Sterling was set to come on as a substitute, but an injury to Gabriel meant the substitution had to be cancelled. He reacted with understanding, showing his professionalism in the process.

Another tough moment came at Bournemouth when Sterling was subbed off before half-time due to a reshuffle after William Saliba’s red card. These incidents haven’t helped his cause, but Arteta continues to express faith in his abilities.

Despite these setbacks, Sterling has shown his worth when given the chance. In recent weeks, he has contributed with key assists, including a crucial pass to Ethan Nwaneri for his first Premier League goal. Arteta believes Sterling has the potential to make a significant impact, especially in the final stages of matches where his experience and skill can shine.

Sterling’s move to Arsenal was partly motivated by his desire to work with Arteta, who he knows well from their time together at Manchester City. Arteta has always spoken highly of Sterling, apologizing publicly when the winger was left out in games against Newcastle and Inter Milan, admitting it was a decision that he himself made, not a reflection of Sterling’s performances.

With a hectic schedule ahead, Sterling now has a golden opportunity to prove himself. Arteta’s confidence in his ability to contribute when needed suggests that his time will come. The upcoming run of matches will be crucial for Sterling, who is determined to show that his move to Arsenal was the right choice.

If Sterling can find that “click” and become more involved in Arsenal’s run of games, he could play a vital role in helping the Gunners push for success this season. The question remains: will the “click” come soon enough for him to make his mark? Only time will tell.