Yesterday saw the launch of the new Arsenal 2020-21 home strip – we ran a poll of the best Gunners first-choice kit since 1981.
Incidentally, you can relive all of the first Arsenal adidas era by clicking the link on the right:
Given the level of interest created by the speculation around new kits nowadays, we thought it might be interesting to look back and contrast with the last home kit launch from the first adidas era.
You’ll be unsurprised to know that it was fairly low-key – a picture of Tony Adams on the front cover of the programme for the game against Liverpool on Easter Monday, 1992:
Inside the front cover, there was just a mention of the fact Adams was wearing the new strip as well as a promotion to be found in the programme.
Adams’ own notes made reference to the photo shoot, but little talk about the actual new shirt itself, which was quite a departure, given the red and navy flashes intruding on the white sleeves.
The aforementioned promotion was basically just a chance to see the leisurewear and the new goalkeeper shirt (nothing about the fact it was blue as Premier League officials would be wearing green).
No deep concepts about the design choices, no special meanings, no made-up colour names – how times have changed.
The good old days of new kit launches, just simple “here’s the new kit for next season”, no frills, whistles, bells or naff PR market nonsense about the kit referencing some event in the past that most people haven’t got a clue about.