FA CUP
Why did Arsenal wear a white kit against Liverpool in the FA Cup?
The Gunners, as part of a social initiative, are set to play at home wearing a white version of their typical home strip.
Arsenal and kit manufacturer Adidas have relaunched the ‘No More Red’ campaign for 2024. The initiative, which has been running successfully for three consecutive years, will once again see Arsenal play in a one-off all-white kit for the FA Cup game against Liverpool (Sunday 7 January, KO 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT.), marking the first time the club has done so at home in its history.
The kit is being worn in support of the work done by Arsenal in the Community to help keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence on the streets of London. Arsenal’s men’s team first played in an all-white strip against Nottingham Forest in 2022, officially launching the campaign.
The kit was also worn in the FA Cup third-round match against Oxford United last year; this time Liverpool will be the opponents as The Gunners step out onto the Emirates Stadium pitch with their typical home kit drained of red.
White kit ‘celebration of Arsenal as a place of diversity and togetherness’
Arsenal say that the kit will never be put on sale to fans, but that a special “bespoke community t-shirt” will be available to buy which will see the money raised go to local initiatives involved in reducing knife crime.
Nellie-Rose, who took part in the 2023 No More Red campaigns, designed the kit, which Arsenal say “was chosen based on its celebration of Arsenal as a place of diversity and togetherness, and for representing the club’s role as a home for the local community – a message reinforced by No More Red’s commitment to providing safe places for young people to play football.”
The Arsenal women’s team will also don the all-white kit on-pitch for the first time when they take on Watford in the FA Cup fourth round at Meadow Park on January 14 2024.
Knife crime a serious issue in London
The UK Parliament website states that “in the year ending March 2023, there were around 50,500 offences involving a sharp instrument in England and Wales... 4.7% higher than in 2021/22″ with “juveniles (aged 10-17) the offenders in around 18% of cases.”
In the year to the end of June, 13,503 knife related crimes came from London, according to The Office for National Statistics.
Why are Liverpool wearing their purple away kit against Arsenal?
The Reds are joining Arsenal in their ‘No More Red’ initiative and are not using Arsenal’s kit swap as a chance to wear their home strip during the game. Instead, the Premier League club are opting to wear their third kit, which Liverpool say has a “striking purple design”.
It will be the third time that Liverpool have worn their third kit after their 3-1 Europa League win over LASK and a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United in the Premier League.
Arsenal take on Liverpool in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup on Sunday 7 January, KO 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT.