Due to a rather odd UEFA regulation, Henrikh Mkhitaryan could sport two different numbers for the Gunners this season.
Although he was today confirmed as the new number 7, the fact that Alexis Sanchez played in our 3-1 Europa League win over Cologne wearing the same numbers means that the new man will have to change as and when he appears in Europe for us.
Article 52.02 of the Regulations of the Europa League states:
From the group stage, all registered players, including those registered at a later stage, must wear set numbers (on shirts and shorts) between 1 and 99. If the number 1 is used, it must be worn by a goalkeeper. No number may be used by more than one player on a team and no player may use more than one number in the course of a season.
It is very strange but not without precedent. Tim Stillman (@Stillberto), font of all kinds of Arsenal knowledge, informs us that in the 1999/2000 season Matthew Upson wore the number 20 domestically but in the Champions League sported 29.
Quite which number Mkhitaryan will choose, or be given, remains to be seen but we’d like to see him sport the Prince symbol because the Armenian not only loves his music but buys his favourite vegetables from a well know German supermarket chain as a tribute for the now sadly departed musical great.
He just really digs the Lidl Red Courgette.
*grabs coat, runs very fast*
I don’t get it.
As when I watch a Shakespeare play, I just laugh when other people laugh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iambic_pentameter
Like me, you’ll still not get it, but you can use some fancy words when having rosé after the play.
You’re welcome 🙂
Cougrette = vegetable (Zucchini) . Lidl = aforementioned German market chain. Little Red Corvette = Prince song. Lidl Red Courgette … you know what? Never mind.
A cougrette, you say….
Is a Cougrette is a young woman who likes young guys?
Cougar, swingers, yeah..that makes total sense
Wtf has happened to the comment section?! ???
Like someone said, the comments section here is as good (if not even better) than the actual arseblog news and blog stories.
I do the same during sex. Just got to wait for the inevitable titter.
Today best.
??
Run very fast into my arms with that delightful pun
😀 😀 😀
You can see why EUFA enforce this law so strictly. It may seem, to the layman, like a trivial, jobsworth-y kind of stipulation to insist upon, but when you think of the potential repercussions of a two different players wearing the same shirt number for the same club in the same season (we don’t know for sure that this won’t completely rupture the space-time continuum, this is UNCHARTED TERRITORY). In fact, when you think how decisions such as these must weigh so heavily on the shoulders of UEFA execs, it’s much easier to understand how widespread institutional corruption is allowed… Read more »
^ What this guy said.
Godspeed..
Ok
“rupture the space time continuum”!!!! Oaahahahahahahahahaha! ?
Thanks for this Paul. ?
No No, It’s just a backhanded sneaky way to limit us to only 99 players in the Cup in a single season. How can we possibly get through the season without resting senior players by playing some of our ten year olds in the Europa League against the minor teams like Dortmund or Spartak Moscow?
Perhaps in the Europa he could have a shirt sized 7 and a shorts sized 7 on the shirt so, from a distance, it looks like 7 but up close (and officially) he is wearing #77
52?
Legendary 52?
His name is Mkhitaryan and he is funky!
Wear 77 Micky.
Are they taking a Mikhi?
“They say two-footed, dribble dribble, plays a winger or a number 10…
But tonight we’re gonna party like it’s MH-KI-TA-RY-AN.”
… no?
whats he saying
Two shirt number stories in one day? You really do spoil us Blogs
Anything for you guys 😉
007 would do.
number 99 It is.
Lacazette
Aubemayang. Ozil. Mkhitaryan
Xhaka. Ramsey
Kolasinac Monreal. Koscielny. Bellerin-
Cech-
We would be just fine
MK47
Cunts
It is something to do with the FIFA VIDEO Game. Caused a glitch in the players selection
I think he may also play in two different positions for us. In a 4-1-3-2 (if assuming we have to accommodate Aubameyang), it will be right side of Diamond. In a 4-2-3-1, he can be deployed in an assisted Tranquista role next to either Jack or Granit(or if need be the more limited Elneny) If we have to leverage anything form him, it is his experience and he may have to pick up his defensive side of the game. Its something we need in midfield to be aware of runners into our box when turned over or during counters. Whether… Read more »
What? no Mahrez? No Iwobi needs to be redeployed to DM? AMN shouldn’t be playing DM but RB?
This isn’t the real Santori
You wrote that piece just to make that pun didn’t you?
How dare you.
But yes.
WEAR 69
Who on here is independently wealthy? (Not you, Stan. Fuck off.) Someone needs to open this store.
69 dude!
no Bill and Ted fans here then…
There’re a few of us!
I’m glad we’ve got Mkhitaryan. his name is spelt like me cheating at scrabble. YES IT IS A WORD!
A bit gutted to lose such a world class player in Alexis, but if we get Aubameyang (more scrabble letters!) I recon we’re in a better place than with a grumpy Sanchez and a comfy Walcott.
I’d ideally like to see a DMF and a CB too, but I’m greedy.
Welcome to our new #7 (and #X). Do the number(s) proud!
We’re only in a better place with Mkhitaryan replacing both Sanchez and Walcott if he can be playing on the pitch and sitting on the bench at the same time. 🙂
Where can I get a jersey with that symbol on it?
007 ?
eleventy seven?
Could be worse.
https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/1143327811837/Brisbanes-shocking-shirt-fiasco
“grabs coat, RUNS VERY FAST” — looks like the spirit of ‘Prince'(?) Theo still hasn’t left the Arsenal…….?
He wears SEVEN then for UEFA cup.