- Arsenal traveled to face Ostersunds in the Europa League on Thursday night
- UEFA rules prevented Henrikh Mkhitaryan from wearing his No 7 shirt
- Former Gunner Alexis Sanchez has already worn the number this season
- Only one player can wear a shirt number in UEFA competitions in a campaign
Henrikh Mkhitaryan may be known as Arsenal’s new No 7 but that wasn’t the case as the Gunners geared up for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Ostersunds.
The Armenian had to pull on the No 77 shirt for the clash in Sweden with Alexis Sanchez having already worn his number in the tournament earlier this season.
Mkhitaryan may have inherited the iconic number from Sanchez, who moved to Manchester United in the January swap deal, but he will have to settle for the next best thing for the remainder of the team’s European campaign.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s No 77 shirt in the Arsenal changing room prior to Thursday’s match
UEFA rules prevented the Armenian playmaker from wearing his usual No 7 shirt
UEFA rules state only one player can wear a shirt number in their competitions in any one campaign.
Arsenal made the announcement on the same day as announcing their squad for the later stages of the competition earlier this month.
The Gunners arrived by private jet at a snowy Ostersund airport with the temperatures dropping below freezing on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger’s side will have to cope with a 4G artificial surface, a significant wind chill and temperatures of -5C when they take on Ostersunds in the Europa League round of 32 first-leg.
The Europa League marks the their best chance on qualifying for the Champions League with the north London outfit sitting out points outside the top four in the Premier League.
