Arsenal have made a surprising choice before their FA Cup match against Portsmouth. The team will not wear their all-white kit this weekend. Instead, they will play in their normal red and white colours. This is a big change because they have worn the white kit in many FA Cup games before. Many fans are now talking about this decision and what it means for them and their season.
Arsenal will wear red and white shirts in the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2021.
In each of their last four FA Cup third round ties, Arsenal have worn a special all-white kit as part of their No More Red anti-knife crime initiative with Adidas.
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— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) January 5, 2026
Why Arsenal Used the White Kit Before
For several years, Arsenal used an all-white kit in the FA Cup. This was part of the No More Red campaign. Arsenal worked with Adidas to send a message against knife crime. The goal was to help young people and make communities safer. Arsenal first wore the white kit in 2022 against Nottingham Forest. They later wore it against Oxford United, Liverpool, and Manchester United. The message was good, but the results were not. Arsenal lost many of these matches and were knocked out of the FA Cup more than once. Over time, fans started linking the white kit with losing games.
Arsenal Return to Red and White
This weekend, Arsenal will play Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round. Reports say they will wear their normal red and white kit instead of the all-white one. This will be the first time since 2021 that Arsenal do not use the white kit at this stage of the competition.
Arsenal have not clearly explained why they changed their kit plan. However, many people believe the white kit became a problem. Arsenal lost 1–0 to Nottingham Forest, lost 2–0 to Liverpool, and were knocked out by Manchester United on penalties while wearing it. Only one match went well, a 3–0 win against Oxford United.
Football players often believe that colours and routines matter. Wearing red and white may help Arsenal players feel calmer and more confident. The club has also said the No More Red campaign is not ending. Gunners will still support young people and local communities. The campaign will just be shown in different ways, not through the match kit.
What Fans Are Saying
Arsenal fans shared many opinions online. Some fans were happy and said the white kit always brought bad luck. Others joked that they looked like Tottenham when wearing white. Some fans were angry and said the campaign felt like a way to sell shirts. Other supporters defended the message and said helping young people is more important than football. The reactions were mixed and emotional, showing how strongly their fans feel about both winning and doing good things.
Why This Matters
This decision matters because Arsenal want to win the FA Cup. Playing in familiar colours may help the team feel more comfortable in a tough away match. It also shows they are trying to balance football and social responsibility. The club wants strong results while still helping communities. If they win, fans may praise the decision. If they lose, the debate may return. Either way, the choice shows how small details can affect football teams.
Author’s Opinion:
Arsenal’s kit change may seem small, but it is important. Now the focus is on the game. Arsenal fans will hope red and white bring confidence, focus, and a strong FA Cup performance.
As featured on GoonerNews.com