Aubameyang didn’t want Henry’s 14 shirt at Arsenal but Lacazette & Mkhitaryan scuppered plans

The Gabonese striker arrived at Emirates Stadium in the winter window of 2018 and had been hoping to take the number seven or nine jersey Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has proved to be a suitable heir to Thierry Henry at Arsenal, but the Gabonese admits he was initially against following in the Frenchman’s footsteps by taking the club’s No.14 shirt. The Gunners moved to snap up the prolific striker during the winter transfer window of 2018. Aubameyang has proved to be a shrewd addition, with 61 goals recorded through 97 appearances. That strike rate puts him in a talent bracket alongside World Cup winner Henry, who remains Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer . Aubameyang has certainly filled the jersey passed to him upon his arrival, with added responsibility being embraced rather than shunned. The 30-year-old was, however, reluctant to take No.14 at first and only took it on once it became apparent that Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan would not be parting with nine and seven respectively. Explaining his number call, Aubameyang told Arsenal TV : “I like two numbers, nine and seven. “But he (Lacazette) has nine and Miki had seven. I asked Miki before I came ‘will you be taking the No.7?’ and he said yes so I said ‘OK I will try something else’.