Kieran Gibbs is Arsenal's new no.3, Debuchy set to take Diaby's old squad number
|Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs will wear the no.3 shirt next season following Bacary Sagna’s departure to Manchester City.
The 24-year-old was offered the opportunity to change his squad number after Sagna left the club and will now wear the traditional left-back number 3 on his jersey when pre-season begins.
Meanwhile, Mathieu Debuchy is expected to complete his move to Arsenal in the coming days after France were knocked out of the World Cup by Germany.
Experienced right-back Debuchy will wear the vacant no.2 shirt for Arsene Wenger’s side once he puts pen-to-paper on a transfer which looks set to cost Arsenal £8 million.
Debuchy has previously admitted he is keen to play Champions League football and Arsenal’s offer of regular first team football at the highest level was too good to turn down for the 28-year-old.
Gunners boss Wenger is also closing in on the signing of Alexis Sanchez after the Barcelona star agreed personal terms with the club.
Sanchez was one of the standout players in his national side in the World Cup as Chile crashed out of the tournament after their defeat to Brazil on penalties.
Highly-rated Sanchez is keen on making a move to London and Arsenal’s Spanish-speaking contingent of Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Nacho Monreal and Joel Campbell has played an integral part in his final decision.