Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is edging closer to a move to Arsenal, so which shirt numbers are available for the striker if he does finally sign?

In recent weeks, Arsenal have opened up a few new shirt numbers with a couple of sales.

Let’s have a look at which one Aubameyang is most likely to take, and the numbers definitely unavailable.

Shirt number history

Over the course of his senior career, Aubameyang has used four different numbers:

The player had number nine with Dijon and in his first season with Saint Etienne. Plus he’s used that number during his entire international career.

New signing Alexandre Lacazette has it at Arsenal, and I’d say a switch is extremely unlikely.

At Lille and AS Monaco, the striker used number 11. Mesut Özil is the Gunners’ current number 11, and unless Wilshere gives up 10, I can’t see him changing either.

With Borussia Dortmund, the Gabon international has 17, another already taken by an Arsenal player (Alex Iwobi).

Aubameyang used number seven for two seasons at Saint Etienne, which was temporarily available when Alexis Sanchez left. Just a day later, Arsenal confirmed Henrikh Mkhitaryan would take that number.

Unfortunately, that means all of Aubameyang’s previous numbers are unavailable.

What else could he use?

The most realistic alternative available is number 14.

Theo Walcott gave up the shirt after his 12-year Gunners spell came to an end. The number has a lot of history for Arsenal, considering it’s what record goalscorer Thierry Henry wore.

Unless he wants to go into the high-twenties and above, the only other possibility is number 15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had the number until he left for Liverpool this season.

Prediction: We’re unlikely to see a mid-season shirt number change, so I think Aubameyang taking 14 is most likely.