William Saliba handed shirt number won by existing Arsenal player, suggesting another Gunners star could be headed to an exit
The leaked shirt number of Arsenal defender William Saliba hints that Hector Bellerin may be on his way out of the north London club.
Saliba, 21, has returned to the Emirates after a successful loan stint at Marseille.
For his outstanding performance in the French league, the French defender was named Ligue 1’s ‘Young Player of the Year.’
At the Stade Velodrome, the youthful Arsenal centre-back made 36 league matches.
According to the Express, a leak on the Premier League’s official website reveals the Frenchman might wear the number 2 shirt next season.
Super excited to see Saliba at Arsenal! pic.twitter.com/oiIqnDLr6y
— Sean™ (was GargantuanFC) (@ArtOfMikel) June 30, 2022
Because that’s the Spanish defender’s shirt number, it may signal Bellerin’s time at the Emirates Stadium is up.
The 27-year-old right-back spent last season on loan at Real Betis, but his long-term future at Arsenal has remained unknown.
The Spaniard’s current contract with Arsenal expires in a year and he is apparently being pursued by Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.
William Saliba has been handed the number 2 shirt for the upcoming season according to the Premier League website. He previously wore number 4 which Benjamin White took when he joined. Héctor Bellerín previously wore number 2. pic.twitter.com/Xdgg7jlSsz
— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) July 1, 2022
He appeared in 32 games for Betis last season, contributing five assists, and his stint in La Liga could be extended.
Bellerin is now in pre-season training with the Arsenal squad. However, with Saliba’s shirt number for next season published, there are worries over his future in north London.
Takehiro Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Fiorientina last summer, and the Japanese right-back impressed in his rookie season.
The 23-year-old appeared in 23 different events and was praised for his consistency and defensive ability.
However, Tomiyasu had injuries throughout the season, forcing Cedric Soares to fill in for the Japanese defender on numerous occasions.
Soares, 30, was an outsider at the Emirates prior to Tomiyasu’s injury troubles, but he performed excellently when called upon.
Last season, the Portuguese right-back appeared in 26 games, scoring one goal and assisting on three others.
He joined Arsenal on loan from Southampton in January 2020 before signing as a free agent the following summer.
With both Tomiyasu and Cedric battling for the starting spot as Arteta’s first-choice right-back, Bellerin may struggle for playing time.
Both Tomiyasu and Cedric are signings made by the Spanish manager, and this may be a factor in Bellerin’s future.
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William Saliba handed shirt number won by existing Arsenal player, suggesting another Gunners star could be headed to an exit
