Gabriel Martinelli has been handed the 11 number shirt instead of his dream 14 number

Gabriel Martinelli had an outstanding season and he has been rewarded with a new shirt number that the Arsenal winger will wear for the first time against Everton this Sunday.

The Arsenal football club has given the Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli an 11-number shirt instead of his dream 14 number which suggests Arsenal could be keeping it free for a big signing in the upcoming summer this season.

The new kit of north Londoners is on sale with Mike Arteta’s team ready to wear it for the 1st time in their last Premier League match of the season on 22nd May (Sunday), at home to Everton.

The new-look design of the kit has white sleeves with a striking collar, but the launch of the new jersey wasn’t the only announcement with Martinelli being given a new squad number. Martinelli will wear his new number 11 shirt as he exchanges out his old 35 number shirt.

The Brazilian has enjoyed a successful season with the Gunners and has finally started to discover the potential that was seen in little blazes when he was first added to the club as a youngster.

The winger has kept Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe out of the side, securing his place in Arteta’s starting line-up and the rising star has now been honored for his superb season.

The Brazilian has spoken earlier about how he would finally move on from the 35 number shirt, but his dream was to take the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 14 number, which was worn by the famous striker Thierry Henry.

Aubameyang has left Arsenal and joined the Barcelona club in January, which means 14 number is currently available, but Martinelli wasn’t able to get the number.

In an interview a couple of months ago, while answering a question about Aubameyang, Martinelli said: “Of course, Auba is an incredible player. Not just a player, but an incredible person.

“It’s a pleasure to have him in the team. He’s a guy who plays in my position. I can look at him every day and try to learn as much as possible. I certainly hope to be playing in the near future.

“And follow in his footsteps, he’s captain of the team, wearing shirt 14, which is a symbol of the club. I hope to have a bright future ahead at Arsenal.”

Martinelli might have changed his mind to wear the number 14 shirt any longer or perhaps the Arsenal Club is keeping it free for a big arrival in the upcoming window. The number 14 is mostly reserved for famous players like Henry and Aubameyang, and there are many assumptions that there could be a marquee signing on the way for this number in the upcoming window.

Everyone knows Arsenal Football Club are looking for a striker after Aubeyang’s departure and Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are also set to leave the club as free agents as their contracts expire.