Arsenal are leaking Gabrielle Martinelli’s dream shirt number to suggest a re-signing will take time

Gabriel Martinelli has been rewarded for his impressive season with a new shirt number, which the Arsenal winger will wear for the first time against Everton on Sunday

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Arsenal launch the 2022/23 home kit

Arsenal have given Gabriel Martinelli the 11th shirt in place of his dream number – the vacant 14 – suggesting Arsenal could save it for a big summer signing.

The north Londoners’ new kit is on sale and Mike Arteta’s side will wear it for the first time in their final Premier League game of the season at home against Everton on Sunday.

The redesigned shirt design includes a striking collar with white sleeves, but the shirt’s launch wasn’t the only announcement as Martinelli received a new squad number. The Brazilian will wear the number 11 when swapping his old 35. Martinelli has enjoyed a landmark season with the Gunners and has finally begun to see the potential that was spotted in a flash when he first joined the club as a teenager.

The winger has kept Nicolas Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe out of the team and cemented his place in Arteta’s starting line-up. And the rising star has now been rewarded for his impressive season.

Martinelli has previously spoken about how he would eventually switch from the ’35 shirt, but his dream was to take over from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the No. 14, famously worn by legendary striker Thierry Henry.

Aubameyang has since left the club when he joined Barcelona in January, meaning the 14 is currently vacant but Martinelli has not been given the number.

Martinelli told ESPN Brazil last February: “Obviously Auba is an incredible player. Not just a player, an incredible person.

“It’s a pleasure to have him in the team. He’s a guy who plays my position. I can watch him every day and try to learn as much as possible. I definitely hope to play in the near future .”

“And follow in his footsteps, he’s captain of the team and wears the 14 jersey which is a symbol of the club. I hope I have a bright future at Arsenal.”

Should Martinell have gotten the number 14 shirt? Let us know comment section below

Either Martinelli changed his mind and didn’t want to wear the number 14 anymore, or maybe Arsenal are keeping it free for a possible arrival in the upcoming window. The number 14 is usually reserved for big-name players like Henry and Aubameyang, suggesting a marquee signature could be on the way.

It’s no secret that following Aubeyang’s departure, Arsenal are on the lookout for a forward with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah to also leave as free agents when his contracts expire.

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates, with Erling Haaland set to join the Etihad next season. The Brazilian has one year left on his contract which means City could benefit from the striker lest he leave for nothing in 2023.