Emile Smith Rowe’s shirt number looks set to change to the vacant number 10 shirt for the start of the new season.

Emile Smith Rowe shirt number to change to number 10 this summer LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal comes on for Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal comes on for Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Currently wearing the number 32 shirt at Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe is expected to be handed the number 10 shirt, that has been vacant since Mesut Ozil left for Fenerbahce, with his new deal that he is on the verge of signing.

As Arsenal announced the signing of Martin Odegaard, who took the number 11 shirt, it was reported in Spain that the Norwegian did not take the 10 as he wanted a number that would be available next season, should he make his move to Arsenal permanent.

Odegaard was apparently told that Smith Rowe wanted the 10, but could not take it in the middle of the season. Odegaard knew, then, if he stayed at Arsenal that he would only be able to wear the 10 for half a season before it was given to another player.

Emile Smith Rowe shirt number history

Emile Smith Rowe doesn’t overly seem fussed about his shirt number, wearing quite a range throughout his career.

A quick look at his history and you see that he has worn 12, 11, 7, 11, 10, 8, 12, 11, 10, 8, 4, 55, 11, 10, 55, 18 (RB Leipzig), 32, 10 and 8 before he made his breakthrough into the Arsenal senior team in 19/20 when he was handed the 32 again.

Emile Smith Rowe mocked up shirt
Emile Smith Rowe mocked up shirt

He kept that at Huddersfield and picked it up again at Arsenal when he returned before another brief foray with 10 and 11 with the u23s and then settling on the 32 again.

The 10 for Arsenal’s first team, however, is a completely different beast, and as a lifelong Arsenal fan it will no doubt make him, and us, extremely proud to see a kid from Hale End strutting around the Emirates pitch with it on his back.

Previous players to have worn the famous shirt include Jack Wilshere, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp, Paul Merson, Perry Groves, Charlie Nicholas, and others, including one of whom we must never, ever mention who was allowed to sully the shirt.