Last summer, it seemed fanciful that he could join the club but the Barca man could very well become an Arsenal player his summer, so what shirt number would Philippe Coutinho get if he did sign for Arsenal?

Coutinho Arsenal shirt

Philippe Coutinho has been heavily linked with Arsenal for the last couple of summers but it’s only since Kia Joorabchian got his claws into the club that it’s felt like a real possibility.

That and Coutinho isn’t quite as expensive as you’d imagine.

So, if Arsenal do manage to sign the former Liverpool man, what might Coutinho’s Arsenal shirt number be?

Coutinho Arsenal shirt number could be 11: Brazil's Philippe Coutinho gestures after tying with Paraguay 0-0 and going the the penalty shoot-out during their Copa America football tournament quarter-final match at the Gremio Arena in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on June 27, 2019. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP)
Could Coutinho’s Arsenal shirt be number 11 if he arrives? (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP)

Throughout his career, Coutinho has worn a variety of squad numbers, although the number he clearly prefers is going to cause some problems as it’s the number 10.

Not only does it currently belong to Mesut Ozil, it’s also the shirt number Willian probably wanted if he could have got his hands on it.

Arsenal, of course, are trying to get Ozil to leave, but his agent has said he’s not going anywhere. Would the club be so ruthless as to take his number from him? I wasn’t sure, but as they didn’t give it to Willian I doubt they will.

At his first club, Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Coutinho wore 30 for two seasons before moving up one to 29 for another two.

He was then off to Espanyol were he wore the 23.

One season there saw him catch Inter’s attention and he was off again, this time to Italy and the number 7 shirt. A single season there was followed by six years at Liverpool with the number 10 on his back.

When he moved to Barcelona for stupid money, he was took the 14, which he wore for a year, before taking the 7 in 18/19.

On loan at Bayern, he once again took 10.

Coutinho Arsenal shirt won't have 10 on the back SINSHEIM, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 29: Philippe Coutinho of Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring his sides fifth goal during the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Bayern Muenchen at PreZero-Arena on February 29, 2020 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images)

With Brazil, he has worn 10, 11, 21 and 22 but seems to have settled on 11, having worn it for the past five seasons.

That could be the one he gets at Arsenal if he does arrive.

Currently, Eddie Nketiah wears 30, Matteo Guendouzi 29, David Luiz 23 and Bukayo Saka has just recently been given the number 7.

If Arsenal sell Alexandre Lacazette, they could give 9 to Eddie, freeing up 30. We also know it’s highly unlikely Guendouzi will be wearing any Arsenal shirt number at all next season. That would free up two of Coutinho’s former numbers, but I doubt they’re ones he’d want.

Other numbers are available, for now, but some are already assigned to other players for the new season.

After 6, the number 8 shirt is the next lowest squad number unaccounted for. It could go back to Dani Ceballos if Arsenal agree another loan deal. That is not looking as likely as it did, however.

13, 18, and 27 are also available before we start getting to stupid numbers. 12 was also available until Arsenal announced the signing of Willian.

Of course, others could become free with the sale of any of the following players who are front and centre of the Arsenal shop window:

5

Arsenal's Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos (L) vies with West Ham United's French striker Sebastien Haller (R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 7, 2020.
(Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Sokratis has been told he can leave, he’s said he doesn’t really want to.

11

Lucas Torreira could be wearing Coutinho Arsenal shirt number
(Photo by Rui Vieira/Pool via Getty Images)

Lucas Torreira could be on his way back to Italy.

15

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal in action during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at the Emirates Stadium on July 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is up for sale, one of four players the club want to sell that Arteta wants to keep.

16

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Rob Holding of Arsenal FC looks on during the Premier League 2 match between Arsenal FC U23s and Chelsea FC U23s at Meadow Park on February 17, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
(Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

Rob Holding is available and a target for Leeds.

20

The aftermath of the Jamie Vardy kick on Shkodran Mustafi (Photo via Mustafi on Instagram)
(Photo via Mustafi on Instagram)

Shkodran Mustafi is off crutches and up for sale.

31

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on July 21, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Rui Vieira/Pool via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rui Vieira/Pool via Getty Images)

Sead Kolasinac is available but nobody seems interested just yet.

  • Philippe Coutinho Arsenal shirt number: What could it be if he does sign? was first published on 12 August 2020.
  • Philippe Coutinho Arsenal shirt number was amended on 16 August to reflect Willian taking the number 12 at Arsenal after signing.
  • Philippe Coutinho Arsenal shirt number will be updated as and when numbers at the club change or when a decision is finally made by the club and player.