When you think of the number 14 at Arsenal, one name instantly comes to mind: Thierry Henry. The French striker elevated the shirt to iconic status during his glittering spell in North London, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and a global footballing legend. But what happened to the famous number after Henry left? Here's a look at how the legacy of Arsenal's number 14 shirt has evolved since the King departed.
Theo Walcott (2006–2018)
Walcott arrived as a 16-year-old prodigy from Southampton in January 2006 and was seen by many as a potential heir to Henry. After initially wearing number 32, he took the number 14 shirt in 2008 following Henry’s departure the year before.
Walcott had a long and occasionally divisive Arsenal career. He showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in 2012–13, when he scored 21 goals across all competitions. In total, he made over 370 appearances and scored 108 goals, placing him among the club’s top 20 all-time goalscorers.
However, his inconsistency and injuries prevented him from reaching the heights many expected. He left for Everton in January 2018.
⏪ On this day in 2015...
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 24, 2025
Walcott grabbed a stunning hat-trick against West Brom 🎩 pic.twitter.com/9XWbrTRGsn
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2018–2022)
The number 14 shirt found a new, explosive occupant when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018. The Gabonese striker hit the ground running, scoring regularly and quickly becoming a fan favourite.
Aubameyang’s peak came in the 2019–20 season, when he netted twice in the FA Cup final to beat Chelsea and help Arsenal secure silverware under Mikel Arteta. His pace, flair, and goalscoring instinct drew some comparisons to Henry, and for a time, it looked like the number 14 shirt was back to its glorious best.
However, alleged disciplinary issues and a dramatic drop in form saw Aubameyang stripped of the captaincy in late 2021. He left for Barcelona in February 2022 after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
Winning the #EmiratesFACup Final for @Arsenal...@Auba did that in style ⚡️pic.twitter.com/7QtGZKAv1A
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 17, 2022
Eddie Nketiah (2022–Present)
The next player to don the famous 14 shirt was academy graduate Eddie Nketiah. After years of development and intermittent first-team appearances, Nketiah was handed the shirt ahead of the 2022–23 season, a sign of growing faith from Mikel Arteta.
He enjoyed a promising run of form during Gabriel Jesus’ injury in the 2022–23 campaign, including a memorable brace against Manchester United. However, he never nailed down a starting spot and left to join Crystal Palace in 2024.
Nketiah loved scoring against Manchester United. I loved it.pic.twitter.com/YRm4Ri1OWI
— Gooner Eurychus (@GoonerEurychus) August 22, 2024
Gyokeres next?
Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres is set to join Arsenal, having been given permission by the Portuguese champions to fly to London and complete his medical. David Ornstein confirmed the Swede is expected to take the iconic 14 shirt. Arsenal fans will be hoping he can restore it to its former glory.
🇸🇪 Viktor Gyokeres is expected to wear the 𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐂 number 14 jersey for this season 👑 pic.twitter.com/Xf0fuGaNkI
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) July 25, 2025
