Arsenal Prepares Legendary Jersey Number for Viktor Gyokeres as Medical Looms

With Viktor Gyökeres's imminent transfer to Arsenal taking shape, reports suggest the Swedish forward will inherit the club's iconic No. 14 jersey.

Arsenal's pursuit of Gyökeres has bordered on the absurd in recent weeks. Talks with Sporting CP have seemingly played out publicly, with every development quickly surfacing in media reports amid heated statements from the Portuguese club's president, Frederico Varandas.

Individual contract terms with the striker were finalized relatively swiftly, and even the general framework of the transfer sum was agreed upon. The prolonged delays appear centered around the specific conditions required for Gyökeres to activate the performance-related clauses in a deal reportedly valued at an initial €63.5million (£55.2 million, $74.7 million) with an additional €10 million (£8.7 million, $11.8 million) in incentives.

The conclusion approaches. Arsenal have allegedly been compelled to accept more attainable bonus triggers to finally secure complete agreement. Gyökeres is scheduled for his medical examination on Saturday and has already been designated for the prestigious No. 14 jersey, as reported by The Athletic.

Arsenal's No. 14 Jersey in 21st Century

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.

Arsenal's all-time leading scorer Thierry Henry remains the legendary previous holder of that particular number. Throughout his remarkable initial tenure in north London, the French striker accumulated an unmatched 226 goals while sporting the 14 on his jersey. Nevertheless, Henry had originally desired the No. 12 upon joining Arsenal in 1999, maintaining the preference he had established at Monaco and with France's national squad.

The number's current holder, Christopher Wreh, refused to relinquish it, forcing Henry to reluctantly accept 14. During his brief two-month loan return to Arsenal in 2012, Henry finally obtained his preferred No. 12 as Theo Walcott had taken over the celebrated number.

The significance of wearing 14 didn't immediately register with Arsenal's speedy winger. "I'm not superstitious and I didn't really consider the significance," he shared with talkSPORT in 2021. "Then suddenly I realized, 'Damn, I've taken Thierry's number'."

Walcott concluded his Arsenal tenure with over one hundred goals but never reached the peaks his exceptional ability once suggested, beginning a pattern of declining performance among the club's post-Henry 14s.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang began promisingly in north London before quietly departing through the club's rear exit as the defeated party in a confrontation with manager Mikel Arteta. Eddie Nketiah never managed more than five league goals in any single season for the Gunners, regardless of his jersey number.

The weight of matching Henry's achievements represents yet another challenge for Gyökeres to shoulder as he arrives already touted as the missing component in Arsenal's pursuit of Premier League success.