Raheem Sterling has faced limited playing time at Arsenal this season since joining on loan from Chelsea during the summer.
Despite his lack of minutes under manager Mikel Arteta, Sterling has no intention of cutting his loan short.
Since joining Arsenal, Sterling has only started two Premier League matches, both in October. Since then, he has primarily been used as a substitute, with Arteta favoring players like Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ethan Nwaneri.
However, according to The Athletic, there are no plans for Sterling to return to Chelsea in January. The 30-year-old is reportedly focused on making a significant impact in the second half of the season.
Arteta has stated that Sterling’s lack of game time is not due to “tactical reasons,” expressing confidence that the winger can still contribute to the team. “There have been moments,” Arteta said recently when discussing Sterling’s situation.
“It’s been tough for me as well to accept that I haven’t given him more. When he hasn’t started, most of the substitutions I make are to save minutes or due to injuries, not tactical decisions. I want him to play more because I believe he can positively impact the team. He’s great in the dressing room and really eager to play. He had an important role, influencing every game, and suddenly, he’s in this position for a while, not just here but at Chelsea as well. It’s difficult, and I feel for players in this situation. Hopefully, things will change.”
Sterling is currently sidelined with a knee injury, and Arteta has provided an update on his recovery. “He will be out for several weeks,” Arteta said. “We need further tests tomorrow to assess the injury’s extent. It’s his knee, so we’ll have to wait another 24 hours, but unfortunately, he’ll be out for a while. We have to look at what we have internally and get creative, especially with Saka also injured. We need to adapt to the situation, find new ways to compete, and stay competitive to win as many games as possible.”
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