Raheem Sterling has no plans to cut short his loan at Arsenal and seek more regular football elsewhere in the January transfer window, despite his lack of action under Mikel Arteta.
Sterling has struggled for regular minutes since joining from Chelsea in the summer and has not featured this month, with his last start coming at the end of October.
The winger has made 10 appearances for Arsenal but only four have those have been starts, two in the Premier League and two in the Carabao Cup.
But Sterling remains part of Arteta’s plans and is determined to force his way into the team during the second half of the season.
Arteta has explained how Sterling has been impacted by Arsenal’s injury issues and suspensions, which have led to his minutes being limited.
Arteta said last week he had “sympathy” for Sterling given the situation, and stressed a desire to use him more.
The pair, who have known each other for eight years dating back to Arteta’s time as an assistant at Manchester City, are understood to be in constant dialogue.
Arteta has been transparent with Sterling and the 30-year-old is understanding of the situation.
He has trained well and has also struck up a good rapport with a number of the Arsenal squad.
“He’s very good in the dressing room and is absolutely desperate to play,” Arteta said last week
“When he hasn’t started the games, 90 per cent of the subs that I make is related to saving minutes or because of injuries or avoiding injuries. It’s not tactical reasons.”
Sterling’s biggest contributions for Arsenal so far have come in the Carabao Cup and he will hope to get another chance to impress when the Gunners host Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The winger has started both of Arsenal’s games so far in the competition and scored his only goal for the club in their 5-1 win over Bolton in September.
Sterling joined Arsenal on deadline day in August after being outcast by Enzo Maresca and forced to train with the youth team at Chelsea.
That scenario would have continued if Sterling had not left Chelsea, and instead he has been involved in the first-team fold at Arsenal.
The Gunners are still competing for four trophies season and, as a result, the feeling is that there is still plenty of time for Sterling to make an impact.
