Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Sterling SIGNS for Gunners, Merino INJURED with fractured shoulder, Neto loan agreed
RAHEEM STERLING has signed for Arsenal from Chelsea on loan.
Meanwhile, new boy Mikel Merino will be out injured for a few weeks after suffering a fractured shoulder in training.
Mikel Arteta confirmed the news and said the injury occurred during a collision with team-mate Gabriel.
Elsewhere, the Gunners have agreed a deadline day move for Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto.
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Petit unimpressed with Sterling signing
Emmanuel Petit has questioned Arsenal's loan deal of Raheem Sterling.
"Since Sterling left Liverpool, he hasn't improved a whole lot at Manchester City and Chelsea," he told .
"Sterling can have big moments but there is no consistency in his performances. He still needs to improve his final ball and needs to score more, this is the main problem.
“This is something that Mikel Arteta will not want in his team, he wants young and hungry players, Sterling won't improve more than another young winger."
Arsenal snubbed
WIGAN keeper Sam Tickle turned down the chance to join Arsenal in the window.
Tickle, 22, was sounded out about going as third choice with the chance of a Premier League squad spot.
But the England Under-21 stopper was not interested in dropping into the shadows and opted to carry on in League One instead.
Arsenal lost David Raya's back-up stopper Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton.
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.”
Merino injury update
Mikel Merino has revealed he doesn't know how long he will be out for.
He was spotted with his arm in a sling at the Emirates in the game against Brighton.
According to Football London, he was asked on his way out about the severity of his injury.
The Spaniard replied he wasn't sure when he would return.
Rekik given a free
Omar Rekik has had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed the 22-year-old is now a free agent.
Arsenal made the move on transfer deadline day.
It's unsure what the defender's plans are.
Saka's thoughts on Sterling transfer
Bukayo Saka has shared his thoughts on Arsenal getting Raheem Sterling in before transfer deadline day.
"Great signing for us. I’m happy he’s here, I’ve said hello to him," he told TNT Sport.
"I am really happy to have him here. I am sure he will do amazing for us."
Arteta on Rice's red
I was amazed. In the first half when the opponents did that they didn’t get any booking.
"He makes the call by law in a non critical area of the pitch when the ball hit the heel when turning around, to make that decision.
"By law he can do it but be consistent. If that is the case they should have a man sent off and then it is 10 v 10.";
Mikel Arteta
Fans fume at Pedro
ARSENAL fans fumed at referee Chris Kavanagh after Brighton forward Joao Pedro escaped a yellow card for kicking the ball away, before Declan Rice received a second booking for an identical offence.
Mikel Arteta's men were reduced to 10 men four minutes into the second half when they led 1-0 at the Emirates, before Brighton equalised to earn a 1-1 draw.
Rice, who received his first caution shortly before the break for a late challenge on Joel Veltman, was then involved in a second altercation with the Dutch defender that led to his dismissal.
After Brighton had been awarded a free-kick, Rice nudged the ball out of play as Veltman tried to take it quickly.
Veltman then swiped through Rice, but referee Kavanagh spotted the Arsenal midfielder's crafty act and was sent off.
However, the official failed to act on another moment of dissent in the first half.
Full-times
Forest 1 Wolves 1
Leicester 1 Aston Villa 2
Brentford 3 Southampton 1
Everton 2 Bournemouth 3
Ipswich 1 Fulham 1
Match report
It was a frustrating day for the Gunners, who will rue two points dropped.
However, after going down to 10 men perhaps it was a point well-earned.
Here's what SunSport's Jordan Davies made of the match in his report.
Ratings vs Brighton
Here is how SunSport's Chisanga Malata rated the Gunners display:
David Raya - 6/10
Ben White - 6
William Saliba - 6
Gabriel - 5
Jurrien Timber - 6
Martin Odegaard - 7
Thomas Partey - 6
Declan Rice - 4
Bukayo Saka - 7
Kai Havertz - 8
Leandro Trossard - 6
Subs
Riccardo Calafiori - 6
Gabriel Martinelli - 5
Oleksandr Zinchenko - 5
McCoist questions Rice red card
TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist believes Rice was unfairly sent off after kicking the ball away.
He instead argued it was Brighton defender Joel Veltman who should have been booked as he took out Rice with a reckless swipe.
McCoist said: “I don’t know what Declan Rice is meant to do.
“It looked like it was a kick-out at him! I think Joel Veltman is lucky to stay on the pitch with his kick out.”
Rice red card incident
Full-time 1-1
Joao Pedro cancelled out Kai Havertz's opener shortly after Rice's red card.
Referee Chris Kavanagh was booed off by the home crowd as the Gunners dropped points for the first time this season.
Rice shocked by red card
Declan Rice was left gobsmacked after being controversially sent off in Arsenal's clash with Brighton.
The England international was booked in the first half for a wild lunge and an act of petulance just minutes after the restart saw referee Chris Kavanagh send him for an early bath.
Rice was shown red for kicking the ball away after Brighton were awarded a free kick in their half in the 49th minute. He poked the ball away a split second before Joel Veltman went to kick it.
Rice went down in agony and expected the Dutch defender to be given a yellow.
But Kavanagh stunned the Emirates faithful - and Rice - by opting to show the midfielder a second booking.
Rice to miss North London derby!
Declan Rice was sent off against Brighton after picking up two yellow cards.
That means he will miss one game - the derby against Tottenham on September 15.
Reiss Nelson to return
Reiss Nelson joined Emile Smith Rowe at Fulham in a late transfer deadline day loan move.
But he is set to return to The Emirates next year as the deal does not include an option or obligation to buy, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Goal!
The Gunners have taken the lead against Brighton through Kai Havertz.
The winger was played through by Bukayo Saka and he had the simple task of lifting the ball over the goalkeeper, who was left in no man's land.
Nketiah receives well wishes
A host of Arsenal players past and present have wished Nketiah good luck following his move to Crystal Palace.
Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock were among those to wish the striker all the best.
Kick-off five minutes away
Arsenal take on Brighton in their third Premier League match of the season, and Gabriel Martinelli has been dropped from the starting line-up with Leandro Trossard taking his place.
Full line-up:
David Raya, Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz
Nketiah re-unites with familiar face
A video shared on Crystal Palace's social media showed Nketiah embracing in a hug with a Crystal Palace employee who was stunned to see him there.
In the video, the woman - who appeared to be a family friend - can be heard saying: "This is one of my babies… I used to change his nappies."
She later said how she was "so proud" of him for joining Palace after she had been at the club for 30 years.
Nketiah pays tribute to Arsenal
Eddie Nketiah paid a heartfelt tribute to Arsenal after completing his transfer to Crystal Palace, as he met a familiar face.
The post said: "Thank you @arsenal ❤️
"As I say goodbye, I want to take this time to say thank you to everyone at the club, from my team-mates to all the wonderful staff who have been a part of my journey and have made this place home for so many years.
"Working my way up from Hale End to the first team was a dream come true.
"It taught me what it means to play for the club and what a privilege it is to wear the shirt. I never took it for granted and gave my all every time I stepped on the pitch.
";From scoring my first senior goal against Norwich in 2017, to making over 100 appearances for Arsenal, I have made memories here I shall carry with me for the rest of my life.
"I’m grateful to have felt your support and I’ll cherish the memories we have made. Thank you Gooners. Eddie."
Havertz praises Arsenal team-mate
Kai Havertz has heaped praise on his captain Martin Odegaard and discussed the understanding he has built with the playmaker.
He told TNT Sports: “I think the connection with him was there from the first second, to be honest. I loved him always as a player, I used to watch him a lot, especially the season before I came to Arsenal, when we played them.
“He’s ridiculous in what he does, not only in the game but in training, it’s crazy, like, I don’t know, you follow him and he has the ball in front of you and he just does those movements and I’m like ‘where do I go now?’
“Everyone is thinking like ‘how is he doing that?’ He plays so simple, he plays so easy but he always, like, plays so dangerous as well.”