Arsenal are in the midst of a giant post-season squad number reshuffle.
Aaron Ramsey has inherited the No.8 shirt vacated by departed captain Mikel Arteta, and Alexis Sanchez has adopted the No.7 shirt, which was previously owned by out-of-contract midfielder Tomas Rosicky.
SEE MORE: Aaron Ramsey new squad number: Arsenal ace switching from No.16
New signing Granit Xhaka has picked up Ramsey’s old No. 16 jersey, despite reports in the Metro which claimed he would pinch No.34 – his number at Borussia Monchengladbach – from Francis Coquelin.
And now teenage prodigy Alex Iwobi is the latest Gooner to get his swap on. Arsenal announced via their official Twitter page that the Nigerian trade in his No.45 to replace Sanchez as the club’s No.17.
‘Big 45’ is a thing of the past – @AlexIwobi has a new squad number… https://t.co/nxHz1AzVzO pic.twitter.com/2do6h4K1Tw
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 27, 2016
Iwobi, 20, burst onto the scene in the final few months of the 2015-16 season, starting eight of the final nine Premier League games, scoring twice and assisting two goals in Arsenal’s unbeaten run in.
A lot is now expected of the youngster, and Arsenal have not helped ease the pressure on Iwobi by giving him a squad number which had belonged to arguably their most important player in Sanchez.
The No.17 has a glorious recent history at the Emirates Stadium. It has previously been worn with distinction by Emmanuel Petit, Alexandre Song, Nacho Monreal and 1990s cult hero John Jenson.
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