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New Arsenal signing handed new squad number

By mac14 on May 31, 2016

Arsenal’s big-money signing Granit Xhaka has switched squad numbers just days after taking the No.16 shirt.

Xhaka was unveilled as our first signing of the summer transfer window last week after he complete a reported £30m move from Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Switzerland international was widely expected to take the No.34 shirt as he’s always worn that number throughout his career and even has it tattooed on his back.

However, the 23-year-old midfielder surprisingly took over Aaron Ramsey’s No.16 shirt after the Welshman had taken Mikel Arteta’s old No.8 shirt last week.

There was some speculation flying around that Francis Coquelin had refused to give up the No.34 shirt leaving our new signing searching for an alternative number.

Well, it appears Xhaka wasn’t completely happy with 16 as the club confirmed this afternoon on Twitter that the midfielder has now switched to the No.29 shirt instead.

Anyone who purchased a shirt with ‘Xhaka 16’ on the back via the club shop will be given a fresh one free of charge but fans are still understandably venting their anger as many will have bought their shirts from other retailers.

Here is how Arsenal announced the news on Twitter:

Well this is slightly awkward… https://t.co/NkCipwOsEI https://t.co/LdkKt7M086

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 31, 2016

Don't worry, if you ordered a Xhaka 16 shirt via Arsenal Direct, we’ve got your back – we’ll reprint with Xhaka 29 pic.twitter.com/1EOUVH4ona

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 31, 2016