Emmanuel Eboue Officially Set To Leave Arsenal

Emmanuel Eboue's future has all but been sealed after the release of Arsenal's first-team squad numbers. Eboue's No. 27 shirt has been given to his compatriot Gervinho, a £10.7 million summer signing from Lille.

Arsene Wenger has had no illusions over whether the Ivorian jokester would leave, having stated that Eboue missed the club's Asia Tour and Emirates Cup due to negotiations with prospective buyers. However, now it seems that Arsenal fans have seen the last of Eboue, who experienced both abject humiliation and absolute adoration at the hands of the Emirates stadium's "prawn sandwich brigade."

After he was booed off the pitch following a dreadful cameo against Wigan, Gunners fans once again warmed to Eboue following his gradual rehabilitation. A firm favourite with many fans, his dance moves, singing and practical jokes seem to have lightened the mood in the Gunners dressing room over the past six years.

Fans will no longer be seen traveling to such stadiums as the Nou Camp and San Siro holding "We Only Came To See Eboue!" signs, as Wenger feels it is time to let the error-prone defender-cum-midfielder go.

Meanwhile, Nicklas Bendtner has retained his No. 52 shirt, allegedly chosen by the player to reflect his extortionate £52,000-a-week wages. Bendtner is still negotiating with clubs but with no firm offers on the table, according to Wenger, the big centre forward may be set to stay at the Emirates despite an influx of attacking players during the summer.

Apart from Gervinho, teenage speedster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may well force Bendtner into a peripheral role if the Dane stays with Arsenal. The 17-year-old winger, who scored 10 times in 43 appearances for Southampton in 2010-11, has been handed the No. 15 shirt, previously held by want-away midfielder Denilson.

Denilson, on loan with Sao Paulo for regular playing time and to be closer to his young daughter, has been sent off twice since joining the Brazilian club, against Cortiba and most recently Ceara.