History of Arsenal’s Number 12 Shirt
The number 12 shirt at Arsenal has a rich legacy and has been worn by a variety of influential players since squad numbers were permanently assigned in the mid-1990s, though its history at Arsenal dates back further to the 1965/66 season.
Notable Arsenal number 12s
- Olivier Giroud (2012–2018): Widely associated with the shirt, Giroud scored 73 Premier League goals for Arsenal with the number 12, making him one of the club’s top strikers in the modern era.
- Lauren (2000–2007): A member of the “Invincibles” team, Lauren was an integral right-back during the unbeaten 2003–04 Premier League season wearing number 12.
- David O’Leary: Arsenal’s all-time appearance maker, though mostly known for the number 5 or 6, also donned the number 12 during parts of his career.
- Brian McDermott: A homegrown player who spent time wearing number 12.
- Stephan Lichtsteiner (2018–2019): The Swiss veteran filled the number just after Giroud departed and before Willian arrived.
- Willian (2020–2021): After joining from Chelsea, Willian wore number 12 for one season.
- Jurrien Timber (2023–present): As of the 2025/26 season, Timber is the latest to wear Arsenal’s number 12.
Other wearers
The number 12 has been worn by more than 50 Arsenal players since its first use in 1965/66. Brief stints from squad or backup players, and the number being given to loan signings (such as Thierry Henry’s 2012 brief return), also feature in its history.
Notably, Henry wanted to wear 12 when he first joined Arsenal, only to find it taken. He would later wear it during his loan spell in 2012, though his legendary status is tied to number 14.
Legacy
The shirt is not traditionally iconic in the way Arsenal’s numbers 7, 10, or 14 are, but it has history with important squad members, invincible-era contributors, and significant goal-scorers.
Recent and current wearer
- Jurrien Timber (2023–present): As of August 2025, Timber is the latest to represent Arsenal with the number 12, following in the footsteps of Giroud, Lauren, and others.
The number 12 shirt remains a symbol of strong contributors to Arsenal’s squad, balancing legend-status names and important role players through more than four decades.