Why Arsenal Will Wear All-White Kit for Huge FA Cup Clash Against Manchester United

• Arsenal to host Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Sunday in FA Cup third round.
• The Gunners will wear a unique all-white kit as part of a special initiative.
• The kit is tied to the “No More Red” campaign to combat knife crime.

A Special Kit with a Purpose

For the first 40 years of their existence, Arsenal’s outfield players wore all-red shirts. It wasn’t until 1925, under the innovative guidance of legendary manager Herbert Chapman, that the club introduced its iconic red shirt with white sleeves. This look has become synonymous with Arsenal for almost a century.

However, Arsenal will depart from tradition on Sunday afternoon when they face Manchester United, donning an all-white kit devoid of any red. This striking design is part of the “No More Red” initiative, a collaborative campaign between Arsenal and adidas aimed at raising awareness about knife crime and promoting safety in communities.

What Is the No More Red Campaign?

The “No More Red” initiative, launched in partnership with adidas, is a multifaceted campaign designed to tackle youth violence and knife crime in London and beyond. It includes:

• Creating safe spaces for young people across the capital.
• Highlighting positive role models making a difference in their communities.
• Fostering connections between the club and the local population.

Freddie Hudson, head of Arsenal’s community outreach program, emphasized the importance of the initiative:
“Knife crime and serious youth violence is incredibly complex. We don’t have the solution to fix the problem, but we know our work with adidas is helping keep young people safe and create opportunities for more positive futures.”

Mikel Arteta and the Team’s Support

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his support for the initiative, acknowledging the significance of using such a high-profile event to raise awareness:
“It’s great because we have so many people who put in so much effort, putting their lives into trying to improve the quality in so many people’s lives, creating safe spaces, safe environments. When we get an opportunity to raise that in such a big occasion, we have to do it.”

Declan Rice, Arsenal’s midfield star, echoed this sentiment, describing the pride he feels in wearing the No More Red shirt:
“Having such a special connection with our supporters in our community gives us a real understanding of the people we’re representing and the role we can have as players in raising awareness around issues such as youth crime and violence.”

A Tradition in the Making

This marks the fourth consecutive season Arsenal have worn the all-white kit for an FA Cup third-round fixture. Previous outings have produced mixed results:

• 2023: Victory over Oxford United.
• 2022: Defeat to Nottingham Forest.
• 2021: Loss to Liverpool.

The team will hope for a positive outcome in this year’s clash against Manchester United, one of the most anticipated matches of the competition.

How to Get Arsenal’s All-White Kit?

Despite its unique appeal, the all-white kit is not available for purchase. Instead, the club has decided to award it exclusively to individuals making a positive impact in their communities. This decision reinforces the campaign’s message of fostering meaningful change.

As the club explained:
“The kit will never be available to buy and will only ever be awarded to individuals who are making a positive difference in the community.”