Why Arsenal are wearing a white kit vs Man Utd in FA Cup game
Arsenal will play in a special all-white kit for their FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United on Sunday.
As part of their ‘No More Red’ initiative, Mikel Arteta’s side are ditching their traditional red home kit for Sunday afternoon’s match against United at the Emirates Stadium and are instead wearing a completely white strip.
Arsenal Women are also wearing the all-white kit for their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Bristol City on Sunday.
The ‘No More Red’ initiative, which was launched in collaboration with Arsenal’s kit manufacturer Adidas in 2022, is part of a campaign to keep young people safe from knife crime.
In London alone, the number of knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by the police rose to more than 15,016 in 2023/24, compared to 12,786 in previous year.
No More Red aims to provide investment in safe spaces for young people to play and exercise, provide ongoing opportunities for connection and champion community role models.
Is Arsenal’s all-white kit available to buy?
Arsenal have confirmed that the specially-made kit will never be available to buy and is only awarded to individuals who are making a positive difference in the community.
This year, Arsenal are inviting members of the public to be part of the campaign by volunteering with one of their charity partners.
Each person who volunteers with one of Arsenal’s charity partners will receive an all-white shirt and will be invited to watch a match at the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice said: ‘There’s an immense pride you feel when you pull on 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.
‘Their stories give us inspiration which fuels our performances. Our community drives us forward, and we win together.’
Freddie Hudson, head of Arsenal in the Community said: ‘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.
‘It’s important we continue to invest in safe spaces where we engage young people facing multiple challenges as they navigate their way through their lives. This is where trust is built, and positive relationships develop with our staff.
‘Being part of something positive like No More Red creates an important sense of belonging. The safe spaces and trusted relationships lead to connections and opportunities like volunteering, education and employment. Over time, we see young leaders emerge from our projects to inspire and influence other young people to make good life choices.’