Arteta insists it is ‘time’ to give Arsenal star more minutes | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has said it is ‘time’ he handed Raheem Sterling more minutes at Arsenal.

Sterling has struggled for a regular role since signing on loan from Chelsea in the summer, with the winger restricted to just 340 minutes across nine appearances in all competitions.

The 29-year-old was an unused substitute during the 5-1 win at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League in midweek and Arteta was asked how Sterling reacted to not being introduced from the bench in Portugal.

“He had a smile on his face, fortunately for me,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing West Ham tomorrow evening.

“These things happen in football and unfortunately it happened to him, but he reacted in the best possible way, which is understanding. He has been in the game a long time and he knows it is something I cannot control.”

Arteta accepted blame for Sterling’s lack of football since his loan move to the Emirates and insisted he intends to hand the winger more opportunities. He is confident that the ex-Manchester City star can ‘really impact’ his team in the upcoming schedule.

“I would like to see him more and this is down to me. He is trying his best,” Arteta continued.

“His application and his commitment around the team has been exceptional and now it is time for me to get him more minutes.

“That’s the intention [to get him more minutes] and that’s why I put him in against Forest and I wanted to put him in against Sporting and now getting him in that rhythm because he can really impact the team.”

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