Handed the number five shirt, Gabriel has some pretty big boots to fill.

Signed, finally, to replace Thomas Vermaelen, the Brazilian centreback Gabriel will not only take his slot in the squad but his shirt number too.

Speaking about what a dream it is to sign for Arsenal, the 24-year-old is saying all the right things, but just what does he have to live up to?

Here are the four five’s who went before him.

Thomas Vermaelen

Arsenal’s former captain, Thomas Vermaelen, was well loved by Arsenal fans but his tendency to get himself on the scoresheet often meant that his propensity to make rash decisions towards the end of his time at the club was often overlooked.

Losing his place in the side after a poor display in March 2013, he never regained his position in the first team as Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker formed a formidable partnership.

Injuries, of course, played their part in his inability to get back into the squad.

Nevertheless, no matter how his career at Arsenal ended up, he was made captain for a reason.

Kolo Toure

An integral member of the Invincibles, Kolo Toure’s reputation has taken something of a battering since leaving Arsenal and that leads some people to believe he was never very good in the first place.

Those people are wrong.

Turning up for a trial at Arsenal so full of enthusiasm that he wiped Arsene Wenger out with a tackle long after the ball had gone, his passion landed him an Arsenal deal and a place in the hearts of Arsenal fans.

He spent eight years with the club winning the Premier League (undefeated), two FA Cups and two Community Shields.

Martin Keown

An Invincible and focus of one of the most iconic images in Arsenal’s history, Martin Keown won three Premier Leagues with Arsenal as well as three FA Cups, Cup Winners’ Cup and three Community Shields.

A player who left nothing of himself on the sidelines. Keown made 449 appearances for Arsenal and probably ten times that number of thunderous tackles. Pacey, intelligent and a true team player, Keown helped coach Kolo Toure knowing that the youngster would take his slot in the side.

His final game for Arsenal was the game against Leicester at Highbury as Arsenal confirmed their status as Invincible in the Premier League. He was almost 38.

Steve Bould

372 appearances for Arsenal in the number five shirt, Steve Bould is Arsenal’s current assistant manager.

Playing alongside Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon, he was one of the famous back four that helped Arsenal win the old First Division in 1989 and 1991.

The scorer of Arsenal’s first ever Premier League goal, Bould finished with nine major honours to his name (three league titles, two FA Cups, one league cup, two Community Shields and one Cup Winners’ Cup).

Since he hung up his boots he has won the FA Premier Academy League twice with the Arsenal youngsters as well as the FA Youth Cup.

You wouldn’t mess with him then and you wouldn’t mess with him now.