Granit Xhaka has inherited Aaron Ramsey’s number 16 shirt after the Welshman moved to number 8.
It had been rumoured that the Swiss, who completed his move to Arsenal earlier this week, would take Francis Coquelin’s number 34 shirt – the digits he has tattooed on his back and that he wore at both Basel and Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Arsenal revealed Xhaka will wear 16 via Twitter, with a nifty little video.
Confirmation of Xhaka’s number change is the latest in a flurry of such updates from the Emirates. Alexis Sanchez has taken the number 7 shirt, previously sported by Tomas Rosicky, and there’s a chance further changes could be on the horizon.
Look at Arsene NOT killing Coquelin.
I guess they’re keeping the number 34 open for someone who really wants it.
Seems odd unless Le Coq has some connection to 34. not that squad numbers really matter, but we’ll take what we can get during the interlull of interlulls
le Coq has 34 tattoo’d on his le coq and told xhak to bakh off
2 things to consider… first, after Aaron and Alexis too 8 and 7, perhaps there was no other number that Coquelin cared to change for. In which case, it makes most sense to keep the number that you broke through with, as there is significance of it to you. Second, Xhaka is coming into the squad as a “play-making” DM, and thus is a threat to Coquelin’s place… then Xhaka also mentions he wants Coquelin’s number. I would think Coquelin probably sees both of these as threats/challenges, to step up and show that he isn’t going to hand his role… Read more »
On another note, have you seen some of the comments bashing Coquelin for not just handing over his place and number in the squad? I would have been seriously disappointed to see the lack of fight in him had he just rolled over like that. Also the comments from our own fans bashing Ramsey? I’ve not been particularly impressed with him this season, but how easily we forget how he basically carried us on his backs to our first trophy in so many years. Hopefully he can find his form again, but regardless of his ability to do so, he… Read more »
Double tick
Well said!
Hear hear! you are clearly on the ‘awesome sauce’.
Looks like he will be in the starting 11 then.
He is Arsenal’s third most expensive signing ever. Chances are he was going to get every chance to be in the starting 11 come the beginning of the season.
should’ve taken the 9 for the banter
Or 14 😉
Theo is already enough bantz for that number as it is.
That’s a well chosen number because 16 = 2^4. Also, sweet 16’s are very nice.
16 = six teens. In addition, 16 = (34-2)/2.
Blogs, couldn’t you have gotten a better image? It’s really “Granit”.
Where’s my coat?
When is Özil getting the #10, which I believe he deserves it more than anyone, not just at Arsenal but the entire Football world.
So strange players changing numbers, gonna miss seeing that 16 on Rambo. Although he’s a true number 8.
Should’ve just given the expensive new guy the 8
Forever 16
Basically Coqlein told him to fcking earn it
Bellerin should take up the No. 2 shirt. Debuchy should look for a vacant number should he want to ‘stay’ with us…May be No. 103.
Well that is a surprise. Coq actually being #27 as seen in the promo video for Granit’s signing seems more imminent now.
Huh?
The was word Granit would take #34 and Coq would move to #16, though in the video Coq was wearing a training top with #27 on it.
Numbers on training shirts mean nothing. When will people realise this? Every week when they release training photos there are players wearing all sorts of different numbers.
Theres some slightly autistic numbers stuff going on at Arsenal
What’s Walcotts new number? Cant wait 🙁
Sadly, I think he’s earned “41”. The “reverse/opposite” of 14.
So disappointed in him over my short five years as a Gooner.
MOST INTERESTING ARSENAL NEWS IS SHIRT NUMBER CHANGES I LOVE IT I CAN’T GET ENOUGH
Pardon?
What with the supposedly many signings, number changes and what not, they are surely playing a lot of FIFA at The Arsenal
So I guess they are saving 34 for Walcott?
Otherwise I wont understand anything if Coq dont keep it.
A lot of guys are wearing wrong numbers in training ATM.. so with this news coq surely keeps his shirt no.
Fitting that Ramsey takes number 8, since he’s half the player Granit is.
Am I the only one who saw a potential banter with him taking 47?
Xhaka sure must have something to do with the number 7. Previously – 3 + 4 = 7. Now – 1 + 6 = 7. Simple mathematics.
1+0 does not equal 7 .Switzerland jersey. Not so simple.
Story is that one of Xhaka’s coaches early on in his childhood told him he’d. Never be worthy of the no. 7 jersey…….hence 34 and now 16
When per leaves, coq should get number 4. Then xhaka can get 34