Arsenal have put an end to speculation surrounding Viktor Gyokeres and the club's iconic No9 shirt, confirming that the Swedish striker will not be taking on the number despite it becoming available following Gabriel Jesus' summer move to Barcelona.
The No9 jersey holds significant weight in Arsenal's history, having previously been worn by notable forwards such as Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Anelka and Eduardo during different eras at the club. With Jesus departing for the Catalan giants, many assumed the shirt would naturally pass to Gyokeres, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium as the club's marquee striking addition, reportedly for a fee in the region of £12.9m plus additional costs according to various reports circulating among fans and pundits.
However, the club have now clarified that this will not be the case, quashing an unusual theory that had gained traction on social media. That theory suggested Gyokeres' absence from Arsenal's squad in their opening two Premier League fixtures of the season was somehow connected to unresolved issues regarding his shirt number, rather than tactical or fitness-related decisions.
The Swedish international has yet to make an appearance for Arsenal in the league this term, a fact that fuelled the online chatter despite there being no concrete evidence linking his absence to squad numbering. Arsenal's decision-making around matchday squads has instead been influenced by other factors, as manager Mikel Arteta has explained following recent fixtures.
Speaking after Arsenal's latest Premier League victory, Arteta addressed the nature of squad rotation and the difficult decisions he faces when selecting his matchday group. "It was a squad performance and a squad victory today and I'm sad for the ones that didn't have the chance to play because they all want to be participating," the Spanish coach said.
Arteta went on to explain that physical considerations have played a role in recent team selections, hinting that fitness levels across the squad have influenced who features on any given matchday. "But sometimes you have certain issues with players physically that you have to make changes and I'm sure there are going to be minutes for everybody," he added.
The Arsenal boss also touched on the tactical nature of the contest his side had just navigated, acknowledging the challenges posed by an opponent capable of shifting momentum during matches. "It was a squad victory and we knew it was going to be a long match. The game was going to shift and they were going to have moments because they are very capable of doing that, especially when you lose the ball in certain areas," Arteta stated.
Despite areas of the performance he felt could still be refined, the manager praised the collective mentality shown by those who did feature. "There are still things to improve but I loved the attitude of every single player that was on the pitch," he concluded.
Gyokeres' situation remains one to watch as the season progresses, with Arsenal fans eager to see the Swedish forward make his Premier League bow for the club. While the shirt number mystery has now been resolved, questions over his integration into Arteta's first-choice lineup persist, with the manager suggesting that opportunities will arise for all squad members as the campaign unfolds.
Based on reporting from standard-football.