The aim of this paper is twofold. First we prove a theorem of extension of sections of a coherent subquotient of a hermitian vector bundle on a complex analytic space with control of the norms, without any of the smoothness assumptions that were needed in previously known analogous results. Then we show how to associate an arithmetic Hilbert-Samuel function to a coherent sheaf on an arithmetic variety -- provided this coherent sheaf is a subquotient of a hermitian vector bundle -- and using the classical arithmetic Hilbert-Samuel theorem and our extension theorem, we give the leading term of the so constructed arithmetic Hilbert-Samuel function.