Mikel Arteta has been told to bench star boy Bukayo Saka and give new signing Raheem Sterling some game time instead.
Arsenal made the loan signing of former Manchester City and Liverpool winger Sterling on Deadline Day, and the 29-year-old can help to ease the workload on Saka.
Sterling, who had been informed by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca that he wouldn’t get any game time for the Blues this season, had been told to look for another club to either sign for permanently or move out to on loan.
The England international ended up choosing Arsenal as his destination for the season, and told fans he was “super excited” to get started. Now, ex-Premier League star Rio Ferdinand has told Arteta to play Sterling from the start, and give 22-year-old Saka some rest on the bench off the back of another demanding campaign and summer.
