It had looked like Eberechi Eze was Tottenham Hotspur-bound before an 11th-hour Arsenal hijack changed the Englishman’s likely north London destination. Eze, who had been linked with a move to Arsenal earlier in the window, looks set for a move to the Emirates Stadium and a return to his boyhood club.
The Crystal Palace ace dazzled in the Gunners’ academy as a kid, before leaving for Queens Park Rangers and eventually joining the Eagles in 2020. And if a transfer transpires, Eze will have five squad number options to pick from at Arsenal.
The most unlikely of options on this list, but No.5 is the first available outfield shirt number not currently occupied by an Arsenal player. While unusual for an attacking midfielder to don No.5, he could take inspiration from recent Manchester City signing, Tijjani Reijnders, who opted for No.4 upon his arrival at the Etihad Stadium.
No.25
It wouldn’t be the first time Eze has walked through the door at a new club and snatched the No.25. When the Greenwich-born ace first joined Palace, he adopted the No.25 jersey, before switching in his second campaign with the south London outfit. A return to his roots, perhaps?
No.27
It was a similar story when Eze spent a season on loan at Wycombe Wanderers back in the mid-2010s. Eze donned the No.27 shirt while at the Chairboys, meaning he’s already had an affiliation with the shirt. While a tenuous link, it’s still something he could fall back on when it comes to choosing.
No.21
This one could prove the most complicated, given a current member of the Arsenal squad has already been assigned the number. But, by the time Eze arrives at the club, there’s every chance this player might’ve already moved on. Fabio Vieira spent last term out on loan and is being linked with a permanent exit this time around, meaning the No.21 shirt could become available.
Let’s face it though, this is not only the most obvious pick, but also the most likely. Eze is a No.10 in name and certainly nature. The number he’s currently playing with at Palace, Eze could be granted the perfect welcome present upon his arrival at Arsenal, given the No.10 shirt is currently unoccupied. Emile Smith Rowe was the previous owner, but the attacking midfielder left for Fulham in 2024, with nobody having taken it up since.
