All change at the Emirates: the controversial
new Arsenal kit
Arsenal will wear new home and away kits next
season - to the dismay of some supporters. The club yesterday
launched their 2008/09 home strip, which drew a negative reaction
among some fans upset that the traditional white sleeves, pioneered
by Herbert Chapman's innovative 1930s side, had been removed by
manufacturers Nike.
The club will also launch a new change strip next
month, which, in a more populist move, is understood to be in the
club's traditional away colours of yellow and blue. The all-white
away kit of last season has been demoted to Arsenal's 'third'
strip, in line with the club's policy.
While it is not unprecedented for a club to launch new
first and second choice kits in the same season, and there is
nothing forbidding it in the Premier League regulations, the move
was criticised by Arsenal supporters groups.
Mark Brindle, spokesman for REDaction, said: "Fans were
pre-warned a couple of years ago but that doesn't make it any
better. I've got two young boys who support Arsenal and what with
the credit crunch, it is not the best of times. It's all about
selling shirts in the Far East.
"But my strongest objection is that the home kit does
not have white sleeves. That is the Arsenal tradition. Can you
imagine Nike messing about with Barcelona's shirt or Man United's
shirt? We will look more like Charlton Athletic next season."
Mark MacLean, of the Online Gooner, added: "Arsenal are
one of the few clubs who can point to their history and tradition,
yet appear to be happy to allow this decision."
Football watchdog the Independent Football Commission
stress the importance of clubs notifying supporters of the expected
lifespan of replica kits, a policy that Arsenal have adhered
to.