Explained: why Declan Rice wears unorthodox no.41 shirt

Declan Rice will keep the no.41 shirt after completing the blockbuster summer move from West Ham to Arsenal.

The Gunners actually had to break one of their own rules in order to hand the midfielder his favourite jersey this summer.

Arsenal have a long-standing policy of not giving first-team players numbers above 36 — Alex Iwobi even had to give up the no.45 jersey.

Back in 2022, Rice himself explained his choice to Gary Neville: "It was just a number I was given in the academy by the kitman, Jamo. It's stayed with me since.

"I think 'Rice 41' has a nice ring to it, I've grown up playing in it and I'm a bit superstitious. I don't know if I changed to a new number if it would hamper my performances."