COMMENT: The famous No.10 shirt is soon to be vacant at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta during an Arsenal training session. (Image: Getty)

Mikel Arteta will soon have to hand the famous No.10 shirt over to one of his Arsenal stars with Emilie Smith Rowe set to join Fulham. The 23-year-old has been the subject of an initial £35million bid, with add-ons, and both clubs are reportedly keen to go through with the transfer.

Should he depart, it will be open to debate as to whether the 23-year-old did the shirt justice, having made just 33 appearances in his last two seasons with the club due to form and fitness struggles.

And Arteta seemingly has three main contenders to try and follow in the Premier League footsteps of the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Paul Merson, and Robin van Persie.

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Kai Havertz

Having silenced the doubters that emerged in droves following his £65million move from Chelsea, Kai Havertz is now considered pivotal to Arsenal’s quest to dethrone Manchester City. But while his status as a regular starter makes him the obvious candidate to don the No.10 shirt, Arteta faces an uphill task in persuading him to actually take it.

Indeed, the German international is not in the No.29 jersey by accident. He previously wore that number at Bayer Leverkusen, and then again at Chelsea despite their No. 10 shirt being offered to him.

And he’s previously revealed the choice is a tribute to his brother. “When I was young I always used to play FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer with my brother,” he explained. “We always made ourselves in the game. My brother always put number 29 on his shirt.”

Emilie Smith Rowe is expected to leave Arsenal. (Image: Getty)

Eddie Nketiah

If Smith Rowe didn’t quite live up to the standards previously set by Merson, Bergkamp and co, then it’s equally fair to say that Eddie Nketiah is some distance from matching the legacy Thierry Henry left in the No.14 shirt. The young striker showed potential last season, grabbing a hat trick against Sheffield United, but a total of five top-flight goals reflected his bit-part role.

Whether the 25-year-old needs the perception that he’s striving to emulate the French star is debatable. Handing him the No.10 shirt may remove the notion of unwanted comparisons, and also a statement that Arteta views him as a long-term prospect.

Of course, whether Arteta actually does view him as a long-term prospect only the Spaniard himself knows. Barring injuries, a regular place in the XI next season looks someway off – so a shirt between one and 11 might be too.

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Leoandro Trossard

If Havertz doesn’t want it, and Nketiah isn’t deemed worthy of it, then Leandro Trossard will almost certainly be in the frame. The Belgian turned into a key performer as the season drew on, his worth emphasised by the Champions League leveller against Bayern Munich at the Emirates.

Trossard’s ability to drop into pockets is also seemingly aligned with the traditional No.10 role. And vacating his current number of 19 is unlikely to cause much by the wait of sentimental sadness.