Mikel Arteta admits Raheem Sterling, and Gabriel Martinelli is put on notice following Arsenal’s game against Bolton.

Mikel Arteta admits Raheem Sterling, and Gabriel Martinelli is put on notice following Arsenal’s game against Bolton.

Mikel Arteta was satisfied with Raheem Sterling’s effect in his complete Arsenal debut.
Raheem Sterling made his official Arsenal debut on Wednesday night, following a loan deal from Chelsea on deadline day. The winger was dropped by the Blues during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, leaving him yearning for a new opportunity in the final days of the transfer window.

Needing competition for Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, Mikel Arteta acted quickly to sign the seasoned England international, praising him. However, with the availability of starters Martinelli and Saka, Sterling will face a difficult task in securing a starting berth at Emirates Stadium.

He did, however, make an early impression in the Carabao Cup match against Bolton on Wednesday night, scoring and assisting despite playing against lower league opponents. At full time, Arteta admitted: “Yeah, it’s very good (Sterling’s performance).” I believe he is growing better and better. I believe you can tell he’s taking steps.

The performance comes after Martinelli struggled in the early portions of the season. The Brazilian looked a touch better in the first half against Manchester City, but he has struggled to have a significant impact on games, prompting criticism from supporters.

Leandro Trossard would normally challenge Martinelli for a starting spot, but he has recently been deployed centrally due to Martin Odegaard’s injury, leaving Sterling to compete for a wide position.

Arteta on signing Sterling.
Arteta recently commented on Sterling’s signing, saying, “He looks amazing. He’s full of energy, a smile on his face, and he’s going at it. He wants to prove a point, and you can tell when someone has that in their belly.

“Obviously, I don’t need to know anything else about his ability and what he can provide to the club. Many things have changed in his personal life, but I was most startled by the player. The first time I spoke with him, I knew within ten seconds that we needed to bring him because he genuinely wanted it.

“That was my only question: ‘What stage is he at in his career?’ [But] within 10 seconds, I realized we needed him here, even before the next questions. I see hunger. He’s a player that wants to play every moment of every game. When this isn’t the case, he’s unhappy. He wants to play every day, and I see it. His dedication and enthusiasm contribute significantly to the team’s success. You can sense it as you step through the door. We feel better with him. “He’ll make us better.”