What shirt number will Declan Rice wear at Arsenal?

Incoming Arsenal man Declan Rice has said he is 'superstitious' about changing his shirt number and worries it could 'hamper his performance'.

Arsenal reached a £150million agreement in principle to sign the 24-year-old last night, though the structure of the deal needs to be agreed with West Ham.

And the question on many fans' lips is: what shirt number will the new signing wear at the Emirates?

Since he was given it as a youth player, Rice has always worn the number 41.

On an episode of The Overlap, he told Gary Neville: 'It was just a number I was given in the academy by the kitman, Jamo.

'When you're in the U23s, you've obviously got the first-team squad numbers and then it starts to get to the higher numbers when you're in the U23s.

'I remember when I went to Seattle on my first trip with the first team, I just got given 41 and you know what, it's stayed with me since.

To be honest with you, I've been having this conversation with my Dad, regardless of what happens in my career, I think I might stay with the 41.

'"Rice 41" has a nice ring to it and I've grown up playing in it. I'm a bit superstitious with things like that - I don't know whether if I change to a new number, it would hamper my performances! I don't know! I just think sometimes about a couple of things like that.'

Asked what he would choose if he had to pick one from the first 11, he said: 'Either four or six.'

While his favoured number is currently held at the Gunners by youth player Mauro Bandeira, one suspects that won't be too much of a stumbling block should the England international request it.

For England, Rice has worn a wide array of numbers - never 41 - but four is the most common. He has worn it on four occasions.

The number 15 is vacant in Mikel Arteta's squad following the release of Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Neither four nor six are available, as they are currently held by Ben White and Gabriel, but five could be free if Thomas Partey's move to Juventus is confirmed, as could 23 should Albert Sambi Lokonga go.