Arsenal – Page 10 – Football Kit Geek

On Sunday 9th January 2022, Arsenal will be taking on Nottingham Forest in the 3rd Round of the 2021/22 FA Cup but their look for the game will be a unique one, they will be wearing an all white kit – no coloured sponsors, no coloured trim, no other colour at all.

This kit is not there for the sake of change or for any commerical gain, its being used to deliver a powerful message, the removal of red from the kit is to highlight the increasing number of knife attacks and teenager murders in London which saw more than 10,000 knife crime offences between June 2020 and June 2021.

***Ian Wright one of the faces of the initiative***

The campaign is being backed and promoted by Club Legend Ian Wright and Hollywood “A Lister” Idris Elba, who are promoting the work carried out by Arsenal in the Community’s work with young people in London and providing more safe, positive spaces for young people and spotlighting talented individuals who are making a positive difference in their community.

The launch of Arsenal’s No More Red Campaign can be viewed below.

𝗡𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 ⚪

Last year saw a record number of teenagers murdered in London.

It's time to make a real change, through real action.

Our white shirt is not for sale, not for profit. No More Red. pic.twitter.com/jnmE4b0GpC
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 7, 2022

There are some powerful videos supporting the campaign which are well worth spending a few minutes watching to understand the impact of the initiative.

Idris Elba and Ian Wright video can be viewed below.

“You can’t buy these shirts, you earn them by doing positive things.”

Working with @adidasfootball, @IdrisElba and @WrightyOfficial, our No More Red campaign is here to help young people find their passion by investing in spaces to play sport and developing mentorship programmes
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 7, 2022

As mentioned above Arsenal are not looking for any commerical gain here and as a result of this the shirts will not be available for sale but the match worn shirts will be given to those organisations who are currently working to reduce knife crime in London, these organisations are:

Arsenal in the Community
The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation
Steel Warriors
Don’t Stab Your Future (DSYF)
Box Up Crime
Copenhagen Youth Project
St Giles Trust
Abianda
Octopus Community Network
The Ben Kinsella Trust

All details can be found on Arsenal Website – click here

The shirt will have the club crest, Adidas Logo and 3 Stripes and all sponsorship in white, including a sleeve logo of “No More Red” and will be worn with white shorts and socks.

For me this is using Football Kits in the most powerful way, this initiative makes me proud to be a Kit Enthusiast and I have nothing but respect for Arsenal, Adidas and all those that are behind the campaign and bringing this to life, congratulations to you all.

The curtain on Arsene Wenger’s time as Arsenal Manager is about to come down, I thought it would be a good opportunity to look back at the kits worn through out his reign in a little more detail in my own little way.

The Kit Stats

Manufacturers – 2 (Nike and Puma)

Home Kits – 15 (11 by Nike and 4 by Puma)

Away Kits – 18 (14 by Nike and 4 by Puma)

3rd Kits – 9 (5 by Nike and 4 by Puma) – this does not include 3rd shirts that were previously used as away kits.

One thing to note hear is the kit policy that Arsenal, unlike many other clubs in 1990’s and through the majority of the 2000’s had a longer life cycle for their kits, with Home kits often being used for two seasons and away kits being used as 3rd kits in following seasons, giving them also a two year life cycle.

This policy meant that during Mr Wenger’s 22 season reign, there was a total of 42 kits, where there could have been 66 used if Home, Away and 3rd kits were changed every season.

The Sponsors

1996 to 1999 – JVC

1999 to 2002 – SEGA (as Dreamcast for Home Kits, 3rd Kits and SEGA Away Kits)

2002 to 2006 – 02

2006 to 2018 – Emirates Airlines (as Fly Emirates)

Some of my Highlights

There are several kits that spring to mind over these 22 years but the special kit used for the final season played at Highbury (2005 – 06) was a real stand out, possibly as it was so different. Based on the kit worn at the club’s first season at the ground in 1913, however the was some question over whether this was the actual colour worn at that time but the 2005 version proved to be a big hit with fans and kit lovers across the Globe. The “Redcurrent” colour also proved a popular addition to the Arsenal kit palette, featuring in one form or another in home, away and 3rd kits over the next couple of seasons.

Other kits that for me are worth “honorable” mentions.

Away and 3rd Kits from 2007/08, these were two kits that had the “Redcurrent” influence and again was something different from the kits and the colours used in previous years for the club.

2012/13 Away kit, which was also registered as 3rd kit in 13/14 but I cannot find any evidence of it being used, this kit introduced purple into the Arsenal colour palette and was reminiscent in design to 2007/08 with the use of hoops (or horizontal stripes depending on your preference). Again something different and something that really stands out from the normal in terms of design.

Any kit highlights from you over the Arsene Wenger years, is there one that holds special memories, the Invincibles Season, the Champions League Final of 2006, let me know?