“We will use this time to do that and as soon as possible, get him involved” : Mikel Arteta on getting Raheem Sterling up to speed ahead of the international break
Raheem Sterling was finally able to find himself a club on deadline day, and to his luck, he is now part of a currently well-oiled team run by Mikel Arteta. The Gunners acquired the Englishman’s services on a simple loan transfer.
This was a win-win-win deal for all parties involved, as Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca publicly stated that the 29-year-old will not receive playing time at all this season. Arsenal made quick moves in the final day of the transfer market and were able to strike a deal with their rivals, while paying just about a half of the Englishman’s wages as well.
Sterling luckily now has time to adapt to the surroundings of the North London club, as international break came in just at the perfect time for him. The Englishman is a versatile winger who can also play as a striker, and could contribute highly coming off the bench, whether he is at any position in the final third.
What Mikel Arteta had to say about Raheem Sterling’s fitness
The Englishman has been thoroughly injury prone ever since joining Chelsea from Manchester City, missing more than half of their matches, which has led to a dip in form as well as his market value. With that in mind, his new coach was asked questions related to his fitness, to which the Spainard had a positive reply in favour of the 29-year-old.
“Yes, we’ll have to see and speak to him on what he’s been doing and how he’s feeling about it. We have to try to find quick wins to get him up to speed as quick as possible and him understanding what we are looking for from him and the dynamics of the team. We will use this time to do that and as soon as possible, get him involved,” said the 42-year-old (via GOAL).
With a two-week international break ahead, Sterling has more than enough time to fit into the Gunners’ team dynamics. Though it should not be that hard, as the experienced veteran has been in the Premier League for 15 years, and has also previously played for top clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and now Arsenal.
Provided the Spaniard helps get the Englishman back to form, we could see Raheem Sterling in action on September 15, getting some important minutes against Tottenham Hotspur in the much-awaited North London derby.
