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This week has seen many Arsenal players either announcing or switching shirt numbers for the upcoming season. The latest one, Alex Iwobi, is moving on from the distant 45 he's sported the past couple seasons to one that belies his status in the first team:
'Big 45' is a thing of the past - @AlexIwobi has a new squad number... https://t.co/nxHz1AzVzO pic.twitter.com/2do6h4K1Tw
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 27, 2016
Iwobi deservedly earned Alexis Sanchez's old shirt number after a spectacular showing in the second half last season that showed just how much Arsene Wenger and the coaching staff trusts the 20 year-old forward. Iwobi's developed through the ranks at Arsenal and, last summer, earned a long term contract that should see his progression continue at the Emirates for the foreseeable future.
It appears there's no end in sight to the new shirt numbers, so keep an eye out here to see who else makes the change.