Arsenal 19yo to get new shirt number | OneFootball

Arsenal confirmed the signing of Martin Zubimendi today, handing him the number 36 shirt previously worn by 19-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford.

via Arsenal.com

Martin Zubimendi was officially unveiled as an Arsenal player on Sunday, with the club announcing that the midfielder will wear number 36 next season.

That number had belonged to Tommy Setford, raising questions about the 19-year-old goalkeeper’s future squad role and shirt number.

Setford, who joined from Ajax last summer, is currently considered third-choice behind David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

via Arsenal.com

Kepa, signed recently in a £5 million deal from Chelsea, has taken the number 13 shirt, traditionally reserved for a second-choice goalkeeper.

Karl Hein, who is listed as number 31, is again attracting interest from La Liga, and is likely to leave the club before the window closes.

Despite reported interest from Stevenage, Arsenal have so far resisted any move to send Setford out on loan, preferring to keep him close to the first-team. Their current stance is that he is needed as third-choice, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Hein’s immediate future.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Setford made his Arsenal debut in the League Cup last season when Neto, on loan from Bournemouth, was cup-tied. While neither Raya nor Kepa will be unavailable through similar restrictions this year, Arsenal remain mindful of needing a strong third choice.

Setford’s position in the internal hierarchy appears to be ahead of fellow academy keepers Lucas Nygaard (54), Alexei Rojas (62), Jack Porter (92), and Khari Ranson (93). Arsenal must now decide how best to manage his development, balancing the need for competitive minutes with the importance of having reliable backup for the first team.

It’s not clear at the time of writing which number he will move to but the 18, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, and 32 are all free, with the last one worn by Neto last season.