Jamie Vardy to wear number 9 shirt

The deal is still yet to be done, however, it’s getting closer, and by the time Jamie Vardy finally signs for the Gunners, undeniably, there will be only one shirt number the 29-year-old forward he going to get – and that will the unused North London’s number 9!

Vardy presently sporting that number for the Foxes, it just so happens that the number 9 shirt has been unused since Lukas Podolski was sold at the end of the 14/15 season.

Truth be told, in recent years, the number 9 shirt for the Gunners has been worn by some earnestly dodgy signings. Only Eduardo, to be fair, is the only player to have brought pride to the shirt in the last 16 years and made us think about it in the way a ‘9’ should be thought of.

This century, Park Chu-Young, Julio Baptista, Jose Antonio-Reyes, Francis Jeffers and Davor Suker have all doomed the sacred shirt.

In the history of Arsenal number 9s in the Premier League, before the above-mentioned came Nicolas Anelka, Paul Merson, and Alan Smith

No matter what the fans think of Vardy, 9, there is no denying he is a complete number 9. Not any other number would be right for him.

Having a closer look at the goals scored by players in the first season wearing the #9 shirt for Arsenal.

• Lukas Podolski 16
• Park Chu-Young 0
• Julio Baptista 10
• Jose Antonio-Reyes 5
• Francis Jeffers 2

“I hope that he can outdo the Lukas Podolski in terms of goals scored in their first seasons. To be fair, the England international only needs one to do better than Park Chu-Young.”

However, as it is, “I reason that if Arsene Wenger may perhaps decide to play 4-4-2, Vardy and Sanchez could be partners in the front line for the north Londoners.” 

How the Gunners could line up in a 4-4-2 with Vardy (right) alongside Alexis Sanchez in attack. A preview of the predicted line up;

As it was this formation, which brought the best out of Vardy last season at Leicester, as, Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa supported him.

Vardy who could complement his style in a front two is Alexis Sanchez, given their dogged determination in hounding defenders, which Wenger hinted at in November 2015.

As quoted by Daily Mail, it was then Wenger said, 'His [Sanchez's] style is very explosive. Jamie Vardy is a bit similar. They go when they go." 

"They are like the lion. He has to catch the animal in the first 200 metres. If he doesn't get there, after, he's dead."

'They are these kind of killers. When they go, it is to kill and after they have to stop.'

Jamie Vardy - All 24 Goals for Leicester City, 2015-16.