Viktor Gyokeres’ new Arsenal shirt number has been revealed after he today completed a move worth £63.7million.
The Swede’s switch from Sporting CP to North London is the result of an acrimonious, drawn-out transfer saga.
The Lisbon club were desperate to keep the striker, but eventually gave in and allowed him to travel to London.
Mikel Arteta’s side were in dire need of a consistent striker last season, and Arsenal hope Gyokeres’ arrival will help them bridge the gap to the summit of the Premier League.
Now, having arrived at the Emirates, he has taken on the shirt number of a famous Arsenal title winner.
Gyokeres will wear No14 for the Gunners, formerly donned by club legend Thierry Henry.
He directly inherits the shirt from Eddie Nketiah, who left Arsenal to join Crystal Palace last August.
But Gyokeres will join a long line of Arsenal greats to have worn the number, including Martin Keown, Theo Walcott, Kevin Campbell, and Paul Merson.
Henry, one of Arsenal’s famed Invincibles, was a two-time Premier League winner with the Gunners. He also collected three FA Cup titles in his original eight-year spell with the club.
The Frenchman hit a remarkable 228 goals and 101 assists in 377 appearances for Arsenal.
The bar, then, is set high for Gyokeres, who will be burdened with immense expectation when he eventually makes his Arsenal debut.
While he caught the eye of top clubs across Europe by contributing to 67 goals in 52 Sporting appearances last season, some are concerned he will not be able to replicate that form in the Premier League.
