Jack Wilshere will be named Arsenal’s new No 10 on Friday — taking the shirt of talisman Robin van Persie.
The England midfielder, who has been on the sidelines for over 12 months due to a clutch of injuries, will wear the shirt vacated by former hero Van Persie — and previously worn by Dennis Bergkamp.
Wilshere is making positive progress on his road to recovery from knee and foot problems and is expected to return in October.
Mine now: Jack Wilshere will claim the prized No 10 shirt
Meanwhile Arsene Wenger has told of his disappointment at selling Van Persie to arch-rivals Manchester United, admitting he would rather have sent his talisman abroad.
‘We wanted to avoid it but we couldn’t,’ said the Arsenal manager. ‘I’d rather have sold him abroad, to Paris Saint-Germain for example. Manchester United know him and his qualities. But when you can’t succeed in extending the contract of a player in his last year, there is no other thing to do but to let him go.
Gone: Robin Van Persie arrives for his United medical
‘It’s sad because he played for us for eight years. He’s 29 now. He was 21 when he came and it’s another bitter pill to swallow. The economic part of it is the only satisfaction. But money doesn’t go out on the field and play, players do.’
Sportsmail has learned that Wenger is unlikely to jump straight into the transfer market until it becomes clear he needs more firepower.
Athletic Bilbao centre forward Fernando Llorente features highly on his wishlist and Arsenal spies have extensively watched Atletico Madrid forward Adrian Lopez.
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