A symbol of passion and tradition, the Arsenal FC jersey is a legacy in itself. The white sleeves and red torso have been some of the most iconic designs in English Football, featuring Arsenal. The classy look of the arsenal kits took almost 50 years to evolve into the innovative designs we see today. From Home to Away designs, its memorable kits hold a long and rich history. The kits you flex today are far from what they have been years back. The many sponsors, manufacturers and various marketing schemes popped in to keep experimenting with its design elements.
So, whether you love to collect football mementos or are a devoted Gunners fan, this blog covers all you need to know about the evolution of Arsenal FC Jersey over the years. Keep going for an informational read.
Travelling Through the Past: History of Arsenal Jersey
The first Arsenal jersey dates back to 1886, when Dial Square FC (later Arsenal FC) was founded in Woolwich, London. They wore typically coloured jerseys at the time of their inception, but it soon shifted to the iconic red and white hues. This change of their jersey colour holds an interesting tale in the past when the Gunners were actually known as Dial Square FC.
A few former Nottingham Forest players joined Arsenal and donated spare kits. Working on a strict budget then, the owners of the club decided to buy the rest of the players the same jersey as the players of Nottingham Forest rather than buying all different jerseys for everyone. Since then, the distinctive red and white has been the constant highlight of the Home collection of Arsenal FC Jersey, embodying endurance and enthusiasm.
The Best Arsenal FC Jersey Kits Over the Years
Are you planning to order Arsenal FC Jersey online? Before you begin the shopping, let’s look back at some of the memorable kits and their legendary design modifications that have intrigued football fans.
1. The 1990-1998 Kits:
The start of the 90s featured the earlier colours, with red in the back and front of the jersey and white on the sleeves and as well the shorts. These kits were manufactured by Adidas, with JVC as the sponsor. Adidas’ famous lines were printed along the length of its sleeves. By the end of the ’90s, the Arsenal FC Jersey experienced another season of design by Adidas that incorporated the touch of blue colour. The shirt and stockings were the same colour, but the shorts and sleeves had a line of blue. However, in 1994, Arsenal signed a new contract with Nike. This partnership brought a different look to the jersey with a changed shoulder and shorts and also included a collar, while the stockings were done in white and red stripes. By 1998, Nike further enhanced its design of shorts and stockings. It became much more flamboyant and was inscribed with a stylish “A” on it.
2. The 1998-2004 Kits
The next season of Arsenal FC Jersey was all a mix of red, white and blue. The shorts and sleeves were white with blue lines, the shirt had a red colour except on the sides, and the red stockings had a single white line. In 1999, the sponsor’s name on the front was read as Dreamcast. Between 2000-2004, Nike changed the collar to red and stockings to white. By the end of this era, the sponsor changed again, with O2 appearing on the front of the shirt. Also, the collar was removed, and this new kit exuded more of a white touch than red.
3. The Kits Between 2004 – 2010
This season began with the same-looking Jersey, with only the change of stocking colour. However, by 2006, the Arsenal FC Jersey kit went through a sweeping change. The traditional red and white colour was finally ditched and replaced with the sober maroon. It had a simple look but captivated most of the fans. Later, Arsenal did away with their current sponsor, and Fly Emirates was featured on the front. Nike went back to the traditional colour it had used in 2008. By the end of this phase, the kit stayed more or less the same, except the shorts were completely white, and the sleeves became red with a line of white.
4. The Kits Between 2010-2015
The Arsenal FC Jersey was very simple now, including white shorts and a red shirt hue at the chest and back. By the end of 2012, the jersey incorporated only a slight change with red lines running down the sleeves and shorts. For the next season, after this, Nike again brought back the touch of blue. This one had a blue collar and white stockings with a band of red and blue on it. As this era came to a close, the relationship between Nike and Arsenal also came to a halt when Puma entered the show. This partnership was all over England and was considered the biggest deal for kit supply. The jersey continued to remain red with a touch of white on the shoulders, the shorts had red lines, and the stockings were striped in red and white.
5. The Current:
Arsenal meets again with its long-lost friend Adidas as its sponsor which became their partner in the year 2019. It started on a smooth note, but soon, Arsenal FC Jersey began to show its creativity in the design. We were introduced to the interesting Away collection with white stripes and unique red lines in a ‘crack’ texture that represented the marble halls of their old Highbury stadium. By 2021, the jersey had a third blue tone with a red border on the crewneck top. Meanwhile, in 2022/2023, the jersey highlighted its first-ever pink stripe with a navy neckline. The final season brought back the cannon emblem in its home jersey, paying tribute to Arsenal’s heritage.
Conclusion
Arsenal’s partnership with Adidas is not ending any sooner than 2030, as per many reports, and thus, you may witness many iconic designs and patterns in Arsenal FC Jersey. The passionate fans around the world who sport these jerseys to represent their camaraderie and spirit will get interesting pieces of information regarding its evolution through the points mentioned above. So, stay updated and let’s see what’s new to come in the Arsenal kit journey!
