Raheem Sterling scored his first Arsenal goal in a 5-1 Carabao Cup win against Bolton Wanderers, and Mikel Arteta feels the striker is ‘physically making progress’ since his shock loan transfer from Chelsea.
The 29-year-old scored Arsenal’s fourth goal on a comfortable night at the Emirates, as the club advanced to the competition’s fourth round.
Sterling made his first start for his new club after two brief substitute appearances, and he played 81 minutes as he continues to settle in at Arsenal.
The England international participated in pre-season at Chelsea, but his early season was severely disrupted when he was informed that he was not part of the first team plans.
Arteta is eager to return to top physical condition, and he believes he is on his way following an excellent performance against the League One club.
‘Yes, that was really wonderful. I believe he is growing better and better. “I think physically you can tell that he’s taking steps,” Arteta said of Sterling.
‘The instant the game opened up a little bit, you knew what he was capable of delivering. He was involved in a couple goals, so it was a pretty good night for him.
Declan Rice scored Arsenal’s first goal, followed by Kai Havertz, with 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri scoring twice each side of halftime.
It was an excellent night for Arteta, who gave youth and squad players plenty of playing time in a commanding triumph.
‘Really fantastic night in every aspect,’ he stated. ‘The result is the performance. We also handed minutes to our veteran players, who demonstrated excellent performance tonight.
‘And on top of that, we gave a lot of academy players a chance, and they responded incredibly well. It’s just so rewarding to watch their expressions, their reactions, and how much it meant to them. So, wonderful night.
On Nwaneri, he stated, “I believe he was pretty excellent. I believe he delivered an excellent performance. I believe it truly feels like a part of us. You can tell he’s playing with confidence, belief, and a clear grasp of his role on the field. So, extremely impressed.
