The new 2011/2012 Arsenal kit/shirt/jersey

By: Brenton | June 18th, 2011

We’re a little behind the times here at the Arsenal Offside, as we navigate the choppy transitional waters from The Martin/Sairax era to The Largely Unknown Jackasses era.

But finally, nine days after the fact, we have a post about the new Arsenal kit/shirts/jerseys/unis/whatever you prefer to call them. And let me tell you, at first glance I am impressed.

New home shirt

Here is Walcott, standing proud:

A classy, strong shirt

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There are a few things that stand out right away. We’ve stuck with our red body/white sleeves from last year, which was a definite improvement over the 2008/09/10 kit, but you can see a thin red stripe down the sleeve and shorts. We’ve also removed the strong red cuff on the sleeve and the white collar, both of which are slight disappointments, but it still works very well. It’s simple, and I like that.

new kit short sleeve

125th anniversary crest

The other big change you’ll notice is the new crest. It’s the 125th anniversary of the club, and they’ve created a special crest for it:

Apparently it's oak and laurel leaves

There’s a good examination of the crest over at Arsenal Insider and the short crest history on the club’s site, both worth your time to read. The leaves are from the first Royal Arsenal crest, the laurel and oak representing more club history. The motto “Forward” was our original motto. And it will be in all white.

Goalkeeper shirt

The new goalkeeper kit is a vast improvement on the zebra monstrosity from last season (seriously, what was Nike thinking?).

No horrific zebra stripes on balloony sleeves this time around

Not sure where the orange comes from, but I like the dark blue, and the zany stripey bits don’t offend so much under the arms.

Probable away kit

And here is where is gets interesting. The Arsenal Insider has a leaked image of the away kit. I’ve never paid much attention to shirt culture, and I’m sure there are people that speculate about how and why shirt designs are leaked, maybe to test fan reaction, etc. And there are always leaked images that turn out to be wildly inaccurate. But this looks pretty real, as you’ll see below.

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Here is a screen shot from the home kit unveiling; you can see a shirt hanging in the background that looks just like the leaked image.

new kit screenshot of away
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Those that have been with the club for longer than me will recognize the similarities with the away kits from the mid-90s (not that that’s a great period to draw inspiration from). Here is the shirt from 94-95:

A decent body/sleeve/collar combo

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and the truly horrific 95-96 shirt:

I can't... I... just.. Ugh.

I don’t hate the possible away kit as much as I did when I first saw it. I don’t like it, particularly, and I really don’t like the shift from the solid body/different sleeves or armbands to a diagonal body.

No third kit yet.

So, there you have it. Thoughts?

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“It sticks in the craw because nobody likes the Arsenal, but you simply can’t help but enjoy watching the football they play.” – Brian Clough

Some Related Stories:

Category: Arsenal News, Theo Walcott

« Arsenal’s 2011/12 Premier League Schedule, Plus Other Notes | Home | Arsenal’s 1997-98 League Title: Birth of my Fandom »

Najashitaju

change of kit doesnt mean anything,let wenger sign good n experience players
Trev

Love the crest, miss last years sleeves. What happened to the pictures we saw from earlier in the season, with the red socks? Much nicer in my opinion.
brenton

Yah, I miss the red band on the sleeves.
Sean

I own the flash arsenal jersey, Its really amazing and beautiful. I hate when kits always look the same, I like new ideas.
Homey_Mills

Brenton,
I must say that was a much better and more relevant quote at the bottom than what that other tool on this blog has been doing. :-|
brenton

I aim to please. And to outdo other tools.
FredJacob

when i first read that comment i was gonna let you have it, but then i relieved it was you lol
Homey_Mills

Well as it turns out, maybe the England U-21 team could have used Jack after all. I just saw that they conceded two late ones and lost. Lansbury made a sub appearance.
FredJacob

i was hoping lansbury played good, with guys like Rosicky and denilson not contributing i was hoping he would start to get some playing time with the first team, no they did not need jack he deserve the rest he got, i wish Gibson played though
KingBurns

Whole reason for the neon zebra monstrosity goalkeeper kit last year is because it makes the keeper look bigger (dont ask me why and how because i dont know) according to nike. Hense a lot of keepers in the Prem using neon kits last year, so it wasnt really a choice...
brenton

The sleeves were really loose and flappy. Are opposing players fooled by that? Are keepers the equivalent of a moth with eye-shaped marks on their wings? Or lizards with flaring neck flaps?
Arsenal

I think the Blue kit looks pretty cool, but thats just me
brenton

I like that you like it.

Also, my informal poll of the one other Arsenal fan who I play pick-up with on Sundays reveals that 100% of fans kind of like it.
Homey_Mills

Slightly off topic, but can't anyone explain to me the Luka Modric transfer situation? I mean, since when should 22 million pounds be "ridiculous" for a player like that? Or maybe I'm missing something. Is he really that great and I've just been the last to know about it?
Tee_sui

I think it's because Modric's not English. Phil Jones reportedly cost Man U(re) about 20 million pounds.
vHF

Modric is fantastic, in my opinion he's Cesc-class. Redknapp has played him a bit deeper since VDV arrived, so he didn't score or even assist that many goals, but he's *the* player that makes Spurs tick.
Darren_V

So you consider Modric to be one of the best in the world?
Are you a Sp*rs fan? Modric is a very good player... but not nearly in Cesc's class.
vHF

I disagree.
I would have disagreed respectfully had you not called me a Sp*rs fan.
brenton

Darren was actually looking for a fellow Spurs fan. Ever since The Martin left, he's been inconsolable.
Darren_V

So you believe Modric is as good as Cesc. Really?
vHF

Not quite. I believe he is in the same class, i.e. he's roughly as good. In other words, the difference, if any, is minor.
Homey_Mills

Well I guess I stand corrected. But I was looking at his 3 goals and 2 assists last year, in addition to where Spurs finished in the standings (despite several other quality players). And the fact that when I watch them, it's more Bale who I can't take my eyes off. So with all of that, when I hear 'Arry saying he should go for 40 million or more, I have to wonder.
Maybe I just have to get used to the prices that players are going for now - Phil Jones, Carroll, Bent, Torres, etc.
Chris

'Arry (for once) is right. Modric is worth 40 million. For the pure and simple reason that logically that then makes Cesc worth 60 million. Got the cash, Rosell ?? If not, then Shut It and leave our captain alone !
brenton

One of the best players in the Premier League last year. More impact than Carroll.
Brenton's mom from liverpool

Carroll only played 5 games and scored 2 goals ,unlike luka modric how scored 2 goals in the whole season so get your facts right then talk "Brenton" !!
brenton

My name is just Brenton, no need for "quotations".

And do you really want to get into an argument about player impact based on goals? Quick, who had more impact last season in the Premier League, Johan Elmander or Yaya Toure?
Ian

uh... theres more to football than scoring goals. im pretty sure alot of players have scored more goals than xavi but they probably wouldn't cost more
FredJacob

I pre-ordered mines already should get it this week i hope
Orion

The only issue I have before ordering one is which player name will I have on the back. Last year I bought Nasri's, and if he leaves that shirt becomes pretty useless. I was thinking either Walcott or Jack. Have you printed any name and/or number on the back?
FredJacob

yea i decided to put my on name, since i really will not use a jersey and in a few years the players leave

so since am a gunner for life i used my own name lol
brenton

Feel free to send us a photo.
Casimir

Home kit is nice and class. Away is abysmal. I don't mind having a "modern old-fashioned" look to the badge/crest for this year as an anniversary deal. I miss the red cuffs, but the red piping to match the piping of the shorts is alright. Overall, it does look very basic though... and very easy for people out there to make 'imos' of.
Darren_V

Really not a fan of the crest.
Homey_Mills

Darren,
If Bergkamp is your favorite player of all time, why do you have a picture of Tony Adams on your profile?
Darren_V

Because it's an awsome picture of Tony Adams, and I have a strong fondness to him as well.
brenton

Don't take this sass, Homey. Ban him.
Martin

Yeah, looks cheap and ironed on.

And that away shirt is just abysmal. Is there any doubt that in 2021 we'll be looking back and thinking "Ugh. What the hell were people thinking?"

Home shirt is okay, but overall, a big step backward from last season.
brenton

I like that the crest is all white, and I like the leaves, but it's too big and you're right, it does look ironed on.

I miss the red cuffs from last year. Bold. But I wouldn't say it's a big step backward from last season, just a slight one.
mao

Other than the sleeve piping, I think this year's home kit is better than last. I was never a big fan of the red cuffs, they were too thick for my taste.

As for the change, I'm not a big fan. I love the color choices but the execution just doesn't seem right to me.
brenton

Not a fan of the red cuffs? Philistine.
Smac70

Ive seen the home kit. You see correct the crest I'd ironed in. Bit cheap looking too.
Homey_Mills

Martin,
Do you prefer the crest that has a cockerel standing on top of a soccer ball?
Martin

Oooh, burn. I guess I deserved that for that time I told everyone Arsenal was my 4th favorite team.

No . . . wait. That wasn't me, that was you.
brenton

Well there's Spurs, Spurs Reserves... do Spurs have a Ladies side?
Homey_Mills

Good one. At least you're reading what I write, even if you're taking it way out of context. Now if only we knew that Sairax was visiting the blog...
Darren_V

No, that's exactly what you said. Wasn't out of context.
Homey_Mills

Well, to clarify in case someone didn't read what I originally wrote, I said that Arsenal was my 4th favorite sports team overall. But top favorite soccer team. OK, now it's in proper context. =)
Darren_V

Hmm.... Martin said, "told everyone Arsenal was my 4th favorite team."
Homey said, "I said that Arsenal was my 4th favorite sports team overall"

Yep. Apples and Apples.
brenton

Ouch. Homey ripped apart by his supposed brother in fraternal blogging.
Homey_Mills

He's not my brother in fraternal blogging until he, you know, posts his first blog. =)
Homey_Mills

So is that how our "era" will forever be known? Speaking of eras, when I see the JVC ad on the front, I immediately think of Bergkamp for some reason. So even the "ugly" 95-96 shirt doesn't look too bad when I think of it like that.
AlexM

Likewise, if we manage to win either the PL or the CL next season, that away shirt wouldn't look so bad. Call me delusional, but the mental image of us beating Barcelona in the CL final wearing that away shirt is really amusing.