Arsenal deny Gabriel favoured No4 shirt

Gabriel Magalhaes will be denied his favoured No4 shirt at Arsenal as he closes in on a move to Emirates Stadium.

Gabriel has reportedly opted for a move to north London and is set to complete a €30million move next week. The Gunners have beaten off competition from Manchester United and Napoli, and will tie the Lille defender to a five-year deal.

But new arrival William Saliba has already snapped up the No4 shirt which Gabriel has worn at Lille since the 2018-19 season.

Saliba signed for Arsenal last summer before being loaned back to St Etienne, but the centre-back was back at London Colney earlier this month and has taken Mohamed Elneny’s No4 shirt for the 2020/21 campaign.

Egypt international Elneny is contracted to Arsenal until 2022, but his change to squad number 25 suggests Mikel Arteta may look to move him on if possible.

Bukayo Saka’s reward for a breakthrough season has been a new long-term contract, but the young winger also moves from No77 to No7 to reflect his key role in Arteta’s squad.

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The futures of a number of players remains uncertain, though Mesut Ozil retains his No10 jersey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still No14.

Dani Ceballos is another player whose fate is unclear given his loan move from Real Madrid expires at the end of the season.