Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Sterling SIGNS for Gunners, Merino INJURED with fractured shoulder, Neto loan agreed

Gunners’ nightmare

IN just 24 hours Arsenal have gone from stealing Sterling to the penny dropping  – on the prospect of three brutal trips in eight days.

And the Gunners will face their travel nightmare with main midfielder Declan Rice banned for one match after his first ever red card.

The international break is up next, before Arsenal resume action with a visit to their biggest rivals Tottenham on Sunday, September 15.

Then comes Arsenal’s Champions League group opener four days later – at Serie A side Atalanta.

And the following Sunday, September 22, the Gunners are at the Etihad against champions Manchester City.

Nketiah’s international future

STEVE McCLAREN wants Eddie Nketiah to swap international sides and play for Jamaica.

New Reggae Boyz chief McClaren is keen on the striker to join his team, despite playing for England’s Under-21s.

Nketiah, 25, could start for Jamaica after being overlooked by the Three Lions – and be led out by ex-England boss McClaren, who was in charge of the 1966 World Cup winners between 2006 and 2007.

But Crystal Palace are convinced their Deadline Day signing can boost his England chances this term.

Nketiah, whose solitary England cap came in October 2023 in a 1-0 win over Australia, joined the Eagles for £25million plus £5m in add-ons on Friday.

It brought to an end a relationship with Arsenal that has lasted more than a decade.

Rice breaks silence

DECLAN RICE admitted he was ‘shocked’ by his controversial sending off against Brighton.

“I was shocked, I think you could see in my face I was shocked.

“He’s obviously gone over… I’ve not sprinted back in front of him and smashed the ball away. I’ve touched the ball with the outside of my foot, look, this is the law of the game.

“If you touch the ball away, even a little bit, obviously it’s a red card, after my challenge in the first half – which I fully accept was a 50-50 that I didn’t win.

“But the second-half one, especially with it being in the corner flag, they can’t really progress anywhere from there. It was tough, it was harsh, but it’s one of those things.

“I have to move on from it, I will be better for it and I can only praise the players for digging deep for me and the manager for pushing everyone and the fans as well who were unbelievable again this afternoon. That’s how I see it.”