Viktor Gyokeres denied dream Arsenal shirt number but second-choice still available
Arsenal won't be able to hand Viktor Gyokeres his dream shirt number when the Swedish striker completes his £63.7million move to the Emirates. Gyokeres, 27, has been determined to join the Gunners throughout the summer transfer window and is on the verge of getting his wish.
Personal terms have long been agreed but the finer details of the agreement between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon took weeks to finalise. The Portuguese giants champions, who Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 games far, were haggling over the nature of the add-ons which made up part of Arsenal's bid.
The Guardian report that Mikel Arteta's side made a late-night breakthrough on Tuesday, with the Gunners boss having been forced to bat away questions about the former Coventry City star in the first few days of their pre-season tour of Asia. Following Wednesday's 1-0 win against AC Milan in Singapore, Arteta reiterated: "You know that I am not going to play against any player that is not with us yet."
The Arsenal manager's comments reflect what he said on Monday after his squad landed in Asia. "I cannot comment on any player who is not part of our group yet," he told reporters. "When we have something concrete to offer in any case to any player we will do that."
But Arteta is set to change his tune once Gyokeres completes his medical and puts pen to paper on a five-year contract. The Sweden international will hope to take his prolific form from the Primeira Liga to the Premier League - but he won't have the same number on his back.
Gyokeres has worn the No.9 shirt since he joined Sporting from Coventry in 2023. That number at Arsenal belongs to Gabriel Jesus, who until a long-term injury was linked with a move away this summer.
During his two full seasons at Coventry, Gyokeres wore the No.17 shirt. That's currently taken by Oleksandr Zinchenko, who's also been tipped to leave north London.
Interestingly, though, the No.10 shirt remains vacant. Emile Smith Rowe's departure last summer gives the 27-year-old the chance to inherit a prestigious shirt number worn by Paul Merson, Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie and Mesut Ozil.
Another iconic number which is available is the No.14, most famously worn by Thierry Henry. Other Arsenal greats to wear the shirt include Martin Keown, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alan Smith, Ray Parlour and Kevin Campbell.
Gyokeres has only worn the No.10 shirt at youth level while his other numbers after turning professional have been 12, 14, 42 and 9. Other vacant numbers at Arsenal include 10, 14, 25, 26, 34 and 35.
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