Much has been made of the fact that Eddie Nketiah will don the number 14 shirt for Arsenal, but even the player himself admitted it made leaving the club impossible.
Some have questioned whether Nketiah - a player who as of yet has just 10 Premier League goals to his name in 59 appearances - should be taking on such an iconic number in the club's history next term given it was previously worn by Thierry Henry, but it appears he actually has the Frenchman's seal of approval.
Nketiah was embroiled in a stand-off with the Arsenal hierarchy over his new contract before finally getting his way, but there was a time when an Emirates exit looked like a real possibility. However, the prospect of donning such an iconic shirt number proved too tempting to turn down.
In the wake of signing the extension, Nketiah sat down with Arsenal's in-house media team to reflect on what it means to him to be able to wear a number associated with a Gunners great and revealed advice given to him by Henry.
In the interview he explained Arsenal put him in an impossible situation when they offered him the number 14 - and he simply couldn't turn it down.
"I think 14 means a lot to me, I wore 14 at Leeds and obviously my idol growing up who also coached me wore number 14," the striker explained to Arsenal.com. When the opportunity is there, It's kind of impossible to turn down. I know what it means to the club, to the fans so I'm thankful for the support of the manager."
Recalling the time he spent being coached by Henry as a youngster, Nketiah admitted he learnt a lot under the watchful eye of the World Cup winner and was given a confidence boost by the Arsenal legend.
"He coached me here, my first year as a scholar at 16 he was here as an assistant manager [to the youth team] and coached us for a year so that was amazing, man. I built up a really good relationship with him and every time I see him it's all love.
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"He's my idol, my favourite player growing up so to have access to him every day and pick his brain - he gave me so much confidence you know he always told me to believe in myself and that I'm good enough. When you hear that from someone who means so much to you it's amazing, it is one of my favourite years here at London Colney."
Henry's influence on Nketiah looks to have manifested after the young striker enjoyed a solid end to the season last term. Two braces against Chelsea and Leeds respectively had the Arsenal faithful dreaming of Champions League qualification.
The Gunners are set to add another forward into the mix with the acquisition of Gabriel Jesus, but Nketiah will surely Henry's words of wisdom to ensure he keeps himself in Mikel Arteta's plans.
Therefore, there is immense pressure on 23-year-old academy graduate Nketiah to deliver next season as Arsenal look to end their recent run of six years with no Champions League football.
