Skip to content

Francis Jeffers, Julio Baptista and Lucas Perez: The curse of Arsenal's No 9 shirt

Francis Jeffers, Julio Baptista and Lucas Perez: The curse of Arsenal's No 9 shirt

Arsenal have a new No 9 after Alexandre Lacazette's arrival from Lyon, but can the Frenchman succeed wearing the shirt number in which others have failed?

Following the 26-year-old's arrival on a club-record £52m fee, the striker, who is set to make his debut in the club's pre-season firendly against Sydney FC on Thursday, has been handed the No 9 shirt which was worn by Lucas Perez last season.

With Perez seemingly on his way out of the Emirates Stadium, the Spaniard becomes is the latest in a long line of players, who have struggled to hit the heights expected of them wearing the number nine on their back.

Lacazette up for challenge
Lacazette up for challenge

Alexandre Lacazette happy to be at Arsenal and eager to play

Alan Smith, Paul Merson and Nicolas Anelka all had success in the shirt early on in the Premier League era but since Anleka's departure to Real Madrid in 1999, the "curse" of the Arsenal No 9 shirt has struck.

Also See:

Here's a list of the players who have struggled as Arsenal's No 9...

And the new...

Around Sky