There, he was given the 24.
After a season in Germany, Merino was off to Newcastle, where he was handed the 23 shirt, a number he could end up with again at Arsenal.
At Real Sociedad, Merino has worn the number 8 since he joined in 2018 for €12m from Newcastle, a year after he turned up in the Premier League.
At Arsenal, of course, Martin Odegaard wears the number 8, so that is not available. There was talk that Odegaard would move to his more favoured 10 after Emile Smith Rowe was sold to Fulham, but if he was going to do that, it seems likely he would have done so before the season started.
Smith Rowe’s vacant 10 is the lowest first-team squad number available which could go to Merino, although it wouldn’t be an ideal fit.
After that, 13 is free (but will likely go to Joan Garcia should Arsenal sell Aaron Ramsdale).
14 is likely to become available should any club meet Arsenal’s £30m price tag for Eddie Nketiah, as could 15 with Jakub Kiwior‘s future at the club far from certain and Reiss Nelson‘s 23, but none of those moves seem like they will be anywhere close to completion by the time Merino arrives in London.
16 and 23, which Merino wore with the Magpies, are also free, so it seems like it will be between the 10 and the 23.
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