Mikel Arteta trots out familiar Arsenal excuse in response to Raheem Sterling struggles

Raheem Sterling has struggled for minutes since moving connected indebtedness to Arsenal from Chelsea - and Mikel Arteta has praised the winger's cognition to not being offered much first-team action

Mikel Arteta has claimed helium is to blasted for Raheem Sterling's deficiency of opportunities astatine Arsenal this play but much minutes could travel soon.

Sterling arrived astatine the Emirates connected transportation deadline day successful August, moving connected indebtedness from Chelsea. The erstwhile Manchester City winger has struggled to endanger Arteta's starting lineup truthful acold this term, however.

More than fractional of the 29-year-old's minutes person travel successful the Carabao Cup, with Sterling earning conscionable 1 commencement successful the Premier League. Arteta remains pleased with the veteran's exertion nevertheless and admitted helium would beryllium required to connection Sterling much clip connected the pitch.

"I would similar to spot him more, to beryllium fair," said the Spaniard up of West Ham. "This is down to me.

"He is trying his best, his application, his committedness astir the squad has been exceptional and present it is clip for maine to springiness him much minutes."

Sterling was denied a spot connected the transportation against Sporting CP successful the Champions League connected Wednesday evening erstwhile Arteta had to respond to injury. The winger was acceptable to beryllium introduced from the seat but was denied.

Fortunately for Arteta, his absorption was not problematic. When asked however helium responded, Arteta said: "A grin connected his face, fortunately for me.

"It’s 1 of these things that happens successful football. Unfortunately it happened to him and helium reacted successful the champion imaginable way, which is understanding. He has been successful this crippled a agelong clip and helium knows that this is thing I cannot control."

Arteta shouldering the blasted for a hardworking subordinate not featuring much volition beryllium acquainted to those who travel the Gunners. Before his exit Eddie Nketiah recovered akin attraction arsenic helium struggled to bid a spot successful the starting XI astatine the Emirates.

"This is 1 of the hazards to permission idiosyncratic similar Eddie retired of the squad, but astatine the infinitesimal everybody has been acceptable and we person truthful galore options up front," Arteta said successful 2021.

"But it hurts arsenic good due to the fact that of however Eddie behaves and trains each time and due to the fact that he's a subordinate from our academy, but helium volition person his chance. He needs to beryllium diligent and he's showing nary signs of lacking cognition oregon thing similar that, it's the implicit opposite.

"He's a joyousness to enactment with and helium deserves minutes and if helium doesn't get it, it's conscionable my fault."

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