I am surprised to see little reaction to the new kit, particularly regarding the decision to remove the white sleeves. Maybe it is because the new kit has been circulating ‘unofficially’ for months (onlinegooner may have been the first in January this year) so that everyone has already accepted it.

After the marketing campaign to celebrate Herbert Chapman, to justify the launch of a non-Arsenal white kit last year, they have now done away with another Chapman innovation the following season. Who could possibly suspect a cynical marketing ploy?

I have emailed the club (and wait with baited breath for a reply) as follows:

Can you please explain why another tradition of Arsenal football club has been ignored in the design of the new home kit? Where have the all white sleeves gone? It is bad enough that over recent years our away kit has been changed to meet with fashions with various colours other than yellow, let alone the home kit now also being at the mercy of Nike designers.

The Arsenal are one of the few clubs who can point to their history and tradition, yet appear to be happy to allow this decision. May I respectfully suggest that if the terms of the Nike contract allow the company to dictate totally, that the next kit contract is moved elsewhere. I would hope that this isn’t a decision made by someone within the club, because that would suggest total misguidance as to what is actually important to the fans.

Of course the only way to really get the message across, is not to buy it!