Arsenal may have accidentally dropped a hint about William Saliba's number next season after they officially launched their brand new home kit.
The Gunners will once again be kitted out by Adidas with the German manufacturers' latest effort giving back to the north London communities. The new Arsenal home shirt features a striking new collar with a lightning bolt design. The shirt, in iconic Arsenal red, will be paired with white shorts, while the white socks will have a red lightning bolt running horizontally across them and will be worn for the first time in the final home game of the current season against Everton on Sunday.
The new strip is now available for fans to buy on Arsenal's club website. £5 from every new home shirt bought directly through the club ahead of the new season will go to The Arsenal Foundation to support local community initiatives.
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Kit launch, Martinelli shirt number, Gabriel Magalhaes move
Like always, you're able to purchase players' names on the back of shirts and thus, the Gunners have outlined the numbers that squad players will be wearing next campaign. Of those listed, one notable change is Gabriel Martinelli, who will don the number 11 shirt for the first time when the season starts again.
What's surprising, however, is that the number two has been left open. Long-term Gunner Hector Bellerin wore the shirt before he left for Real Betis on loan. Whilst he's returning temporarily, the Spaniard is likely to depart the club before the end of the transfer window. Meanwhile, another loanee, Saliba, who has just won the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season award following a stellar season with Marseille, is also set to re-join his teammates in north London.
The 21-year-old donned the number two all season in France and as Ben White now wears the number four shirt he used to occupy at the Emirates - despite never playing a professional game for the Gunners - it wouldn't be a surprise if he made the number two his own.
That's if he stays of course. football.london understands the plan is for the Gunners to open preliminary talks regarding a new contract towards the end of his loan spell, but Saliba has once again reiterated that he's unsure about where his future lies.
"It's an honour, a source of pride. I dedicate this trophy to my team-mates, my club and the supporters," he said at Sunday's awards ceremony in Paris, as cited by the Daily Mail. "Did I play my last match with OM? I don't know. The future will tell us. The most important thing is to confirm this good season by qualifying for the Champions League. Afterwards, we'll see."
