Incoming Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi is set to make his mark at the club in the coming weeks as preparations are made for his announcement.
As it stands, the Gunners have been chasing a deal for the Spaniard for the past year, with their groundwork finally paying off.
The Real Sociedad star has been close to a switch since January, when plans were being made for a future with him in the Arsenal midfield.
With Martin Zubimendi set to be announced in the coming weeks, many are excited to see exactly what he is capable of.
Once he arrives, the Emirates Stadium will greet another new number in the squad, with Martin Zubimendi set to make an unconventional choice for his shirt.
With all of the formalities for Martin Zubimendi in place, it’s only a matter of time until Arsenal unveil their new signing to the world.
There is plenty of excitement surrounding the deal, with many hoping that he can take the Gunners to the next level.
Along with the decisions to be made on how he will play, there is also the choice to be made surrounding his squad number.
According to Charles Watts on his YouTube channel, Zubimendi is set to take the number 36 shirt for the side.
It’s a shirt that comes with a lot of history for Zubimendi in particular, even though he doesn’t currently wear it.
During his spell in the Real Sociedad squad, Zubimendi has had three different shirt numbers.
Recent years have seen the midfielder take on the number four and the number three shirt, options often associated with defenders.
One of those options is taken at Arsenal, with Ben White taking the number four.
The number three is available, following Kieran Tierney’s exit, but it seems as though the number 36 will be Zubimendi’s choice.
That was his first number at Real Sociedad when he broke into the team as a youngster, making it one with plenty of history.
The number 36 hasn’t been a very common option for Arsenal in the past, with only ten players taking it in history.
Goalkeepers Tommy Setford and Emi Martinez have held the shirt, alongside Ismael Bennacer in the past.
Thomas Cruise, Mark Randall, Johan Djourou, John Halls and Jermaine Pennant have all held the number 36 during the 2000s.
Before then, the first two holders of that shirt number were Brian McGovern and Jehad Muntasser.
