Arsenal revealed its away kit for the 2008/09 season, which is based on the iconic kit worn when the Club won the League Championship in dramatic style in 1989. The kit sees a return to a yellow and blue shirt, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Club winning the League in the last match of the season at Anfield on 26th May 1989. To mark this special occasion, current Arsenal stars lined up for the promotional photoshoot alongside legends from that great night including goalscorers Alan Smith and Michael Thomas.
Produced by manufacturers Nike, the kit features a yellow and blue shirt with a red stripe down the sleeves and body. ‘Gunners’ is stamped on the neck and, as with the new Arsenal home shirt, this kit brings a welcome return to the Club's motto 'Victory through Harmony' from the Latin inscription 'Victoria Concordia Crescit', which is included in the inside neck of the shirt. The kit is made from Nike Dri-Fit, an innovative technology that enhances player performance by drawing sweat away from the body through to the fabric’s surface to evaporate, while its three-dimensional construction allows for more air space around the skin to reduce clinging.
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas said of the ’89 League win: “I was only two years old on that famous night, but I know the players are legends, everyone loves them and we all hope that we can do the same with this team. It is always a great feeling when you score or win a match, so imagine what it feels like if you win the League in those circumstances. Every player would like to live a moment like Michael did.”
Michael Thomas, Arsenal legend and scorer of the late dramatic goal at Anfield in 1989 said: “I get asked about the goal once or twice a day if I’m lucky! The feeling among the squad heading up there was fantastic. A month before George Graham had changed the back four to a back five so it was great for us attacking midfield players, we just had to attack and have no fear. Bringing the trophy back south was an honour in itself for me, it was just fantastic.”
Ex-Arsenal forward Alan Smith, who scored the first goal at Anfield in ’89 said: “It’s wonderful that this match is not just Arsenal folklore, but football folklore in general. Liverpool were the dominant force at the time and had a fantastic team. I remember going up on the coach and there was an element of ‘nothing to lose’. A headline in a newspaper that day was ‘Men against boys’, so we took that up and put it on the board in the dressing room! “George Graham told us just before we went out for the match to have no regrets, go out there and enjoy it and that’s what we did. It was just amazing to be involved that night. It was a great night for Arsenal Football Club, but I also remember the great acts of sportsmanship by Liverpool. Many stewards and police at Anfield congratulated us on the pitch, it was a very emotional time, and the Kop gave us a standing ovation which just shows the class of Liverpool. When we eventually got into the dressing room, the champagne was flowing and the journey back down the M6 and M1 just went like a flash.”
The first 500 supporters that buy the away kit in an official Arsenal store on 1st August will have the opportunity to attend a screening of the historic match from 1989 at Emirates Stadium later that day*. The evening will also feature a Q&A session with Paul Merson and Alan Smith — players from that remarkable night.
The new away kit is priced from £40 adults and £33 junior sizes. Arsenal’s flagship store The Armoury, along with the All Arsenal Store and The Arsenal Store Finsbury Park will be open from 9am — 6pm on 1st August, with The Arsenal Store St Albans open from 9.30am — 5.30p
What is it with Nike just copying other brands old kits Arsenal (adidas 89) Manchester United (Umbro 196? Have their designers run out of ideas? - It's nice to commemorate past achievements but why not do it on a contemporary kit like Umbro have for Nottingham Forest rather than stealing another brand's heritage!
This kit looks horrendous, to be honest. remove e red stripes and it wldn't look like a kindergarten boy's play kit
Seems like whenever an ugly garish kit is said to be "based on a historic team/era/year" people do an about turn and it becomes "classic" and very tasteful and classy. I can't believe it, its like being in a museum with a poseur art 'connoisseur", no offence.
I just really wish they would have used the same template for both shirts (either one) so that they wouldn't have had to deal with all of the shit for not having all white sleeves
Don't think there's anything wrong with the kit itself - good colours, nice design, that sort of caper...but Bob made an excellent point earlier, this is Nike cashing in on an occasion in which they had no part to play originally - especially as Arsenal had won the league maybe five or six times prior to '89 and three times since, and now United have won the European Cup twice since the kit commemorating their win - is there any need to commemorate these events really? Of course not. The redcurrant shirt for the last season at Highbury, yes you can see that...but this is not really an event worth commemorating with a 'special' shirt. If it were, why not throw three stripes on the sleeves and JVC on the front.
And while we're at it - United is 40 years since 1968, yet Arsenal's is 20 years since 1989; how does that work? What is being commemorated, the year the season ends or begins?
great kit,its nice to get back to yellow and blue.plus can someone please ask that clown who asked who rocastle was to think about what he says before he writes it down?? what an idiot!!!
Doesn't cut the mustard for me particularly the collar. I remember the original shirt was V necked but maybe I'm wrong. I have to say it does look like a bit like a kindergarten kid's top.
The kit is perfect, but what I want to know is why couldn't they make the home shirt in the same style. ITS MEANT TO HAVE ALL WHITE SLEEVES!! not just a white stripe down the arm. We harp on about being a traditioanl club and then they change the most tradional thing about us.
I may only buy the away shirt this year out of protest.
I think this kit would look better if the shorts were also in yellow. The way it is now I can't help to think that Fabregas looks like he's wearing pajamas.
I hate Arsenal, but I like the new kit, of course I would never buy it or wear it!
The 1989 Arsenal kit was made by Adidas, so Nike would only be able to get away with putting on stripe down the arms, I think Arsenal will look great getting smashed at Old Trafford!
American Gunner
- Arrgh...could not be a worse kit
|2008-07-16
This is a horrendous, vomit-inducing kit. The color combo is ridiculous. I don't give a crap about "Arsenal tradition." We no longer employ Englishmen on the squad--how does that square with "tradition"?
Why can't Nike deliver a FORWARD-THINKING kit for Arsenal...a team that is the most admired club IN THE WORLD!
This kit will have people laughing at us from Belfast to Kandahar....and everywhere in between.
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? Have their designers run out of ideas? - It's nice to commemorate past achievements but why not do it on a contemporary kit like Umbro have for Nottingham Forest rather than stealing another brand's heritage!
As if mate 
