Arteta Sees Sterling Eager To Prove His Worth In Arsenal Debut

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Raheem Sterling has something to prove following his recent move from Chelsea. Sterling joined the Gunners on a season-long loan after being deemed surplus by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. The 29-year-old could debut in the North London derby against Tottenham on Sunday. Arteta, who previously worked with Sterling at Manchester City, is pleased to reunite with the Englishman.

Arteta expressed his satisfaction with Sterling's attitude and energy since joining Arsenal. "He looks great. First of all, because he has a big smile on his face, a lot of energy. He's at it and wants to prove a point," said Arteta. The manager has observed Sterling's determination to return to his previous form, which saw him win four Premier League titles and score 123 goals for Manchester City.

"When someone has got that in his belly you sense it straight away," Arteta added. "Obviously, I don't need to discover anything about his quality and what he can bring to the team. What I see is hunger. He is a player who wants to play every minute of every game. When that is not the case, he's not happy."

Despite Martin Odegaard sustaining an ankle injury during the international break, Arteta did not rule out his involvement on Sunday. Norway's national team doctor suggested Odegaard would be out for three weeks, but Arteta remained hopeful about his availability. "We need some more tests so let's see what happens in the next day or so, this afternoon probably, and see what happens with the extent of the injury and how quickly we can get him back," he said.

Arteta continued, "48 hours until the game, players could always become available, but let's see what happens." This cautious optimism indicates that Odegaard might still feature in the crucial match against Tottenham.

Arteta's New Contract

This week also saw Arteta signing a new three-year contract with Arsenal, having been appointed as manager in December 2019. He cited his strong emotional connection to the club as a key reason for extending his stay. "The emotional attachment that I have, that my family has, and my kids have [to Arsenal], as well as the experience that I have and the moment [I am sharing] with the people - it is too strong," said Arteta.

The 42-year-old manager believes Arsenal is heading in the right direction but acknowledges there is still much work to be done. "We are going in the right direction, we have made some huge steps, and we have a lot still to make," he stated.

Arteta's commitment to Arsenal reflects his belief in the team's potential and future success under his guidance.