Transfer Centre

Shirt numbers available to Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 06 June 2022

Sports Mole takes a look at the shirt numbers available to Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal ahead of an anticipated transfer from Manchester City.

Arsenal reportedly remain determined to strike a deal for Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Alexandre Lacazette will follow Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the exit door at the end of the month, which only intensifies Mikel Arteta's need for attacking reinforcements.

Jesus has allegedly already agreed personal terms with Arsenal over a summer move, and the onus is now on the Gunners to agree a fee with the Premier League champions, who are playing hardball.

Here, Sports Mole looks at the shirt numbers which could be available to Jesus at the Emirates should Arsenal's pursuit of the Brazilian bear fruit.

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring their second goal against Real Madrid on April 26, 2022 © Reuters

For the past three seasons, Jesus has held the distinct honour of being Pep Guardiola's number nine, and that jersey will be up for grabs when its current occupant Lacazette leaves the Emirates.

One would imagine that the Frenchman's replacement would automatically inherit his jersey, and a mixture of revered names and forgettable transfers have donned that number for Arsenal down the years.

Jesus could follow in the footsteps of Nicolas Anelka, Alan Smith and the late Jose Antonio Reyes with the '9', but the likes of Lucas Perez and Park Chu-young also sported the same shirt during their disappointing stints at the club.

Should Jesus opt for a different flavour, the former Palmeiras man consistently wore the number 33 during his time in his homeland, and City would hand him that jersey between 2016 and 2018.

Brazil's Gabriel Jesus pictured on October 10, 2021 © Reuters

Traditionally, that number has been held by goalkeepers at Arsenal, with the young Arthur Okonkwo currently in possession of the '33' following Petr Cech, Matt Macey and Mathew Ryan's stints.

Nevertheless, Jesus could potentially have his pick of the '33' if Okonkwo is sent out on loan for the 2022-23 season, and the most recent striker to hold that jersey for Arsenal was Nicklas Bendtner in 2005-06.

In terms of current vacant numbers at Arsenal, the '12' has been vacated since Willian's exit and was in Olivier Giroud's possession for several years, while Thierry Henry wore the same shirt during his brief return in 2012.

Henry, Aubameyang and Theo Walcott's famed number '14' is also up for grabs if Jesus can handle the weight of such a revered jersey, but Arsenal could still face stiff competition for the striker's services.