Arsenal to wear all-white kit in FA Cup tie against Oxford to raise awareness against knife crime

Arsenal will once again wear a white kit in the third round of the FA Cup after launching the next chapter of their No More Red campaign.

Launched in January last year along with the Gunners’ kit manufacturer Adidas, the initiative is designed to support the long-standing work being done by Arsenal in the Community to help keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence.

The Premier League leaders will wear the special white kit on Monday night when they take on Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.

Arsenal have launched their new all-white kit to raise awareness against knife crime

Arsenal Women, meanwhile, will wear their No More Red pre-match training tops ahead of the WSL derby against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on January 15.

While the number of the number of teenagers killed as a result of violent youth crime dropped significantly in 2022 from the previous 12 months, the 11,502 knife offences recorded in London between January and November last year were an increase from the corresponding period in 2021. 

‘Young people face multiple challenges as they grow up in today’s world and we don’t have all the answers, but we are confident our work makes a significant contribution to the lives of our participants,’ said Freddie Hudson, head of Arsenal in the Community.

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The Premier League leaders will wear the kit away at Oxford in the FA Cup on Monday night

Arsenal wore the all-white kit last year away at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round 

But they suffered a shock 1-0 loss as Lewis Grabban scored a late winner for Forest 

‘Our hard work must continue and we’re proud to be building on the achievements of the first year of No More Red by adding more social action projects and a volunteer programme that broadens the reach of this powerful initiative.’

A number of high-profile figures including former Gunner striker Ian Wright and champion boxer Anthony Yarde backed the campaign last year, which involved 10 charities across London.

On the pitch, Arsenal will be hoping the all-white kit will provide more successful than it did 12 months ago when Mikel Arteta’s men were knocked out of the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest.

Lewis Grabban scored a late winner at the City Ground as the then-Championship club shocked the Premier League giants to reach the fourth round.