Arsenal Football Club, will on Sunday, 9 Dec 2022, FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest, ditch their traditional Red and White Jersey for all white, for the first time, In support to a campaign against Knife Crime amongst the youth.
The campaign called ” NO MORE RED”, was initiated by Arsenal Football Club, in a hope to provides young people more safer, positive spaces and mentorships.
But unfortunately, for the Gunners Supporters who would be more than happy, to get their hand on the replica of the All White Jersey, the kit will not be on sale.
But will be given free to community organisations, or to individuals who contributed positively in the fight against Knife Crime amongst the youth especially in the Capital London.
Arsenal initiated and supported by their kit sponsors Adidas, as well as Arsenal Legend Ian Wright and actor Idris Elba who is a long advocate for combat against Knife Crime.
Ian Wright: “We can never accept loss of life through youth violence as normal in our city and it’s so important that we all work together to create a better environment for young people,” said Wright, who will take part in a mentorship scheme with Elba.
Confirmed report, In the year 2021 alone, Thirty (30) teenagers were killed in the capital London through knife violence, the highest since 2008 according to statistics.
According to Sky Sports UK, the actor Idris Elba was so keen to lend his hand to the initiative to curve the unwanted phenomenon who had ripped the heart of many families.
Actor, Idris Elba. “The idea that Arsenal are going to come out in an all-white kit and say ‘No More Red’ will hopefully make people think ‘Hang on, what’s going on here?’ – then look further and try and find out more,”
“I hope it makes an impact that ripples into other football clubs and inspires other collaboration ideas, and investment in practical things to help young people, whether that’s football pitches, or youth centres like the one I went to in Forest Gate where I played sport and where I actually fell in love with film.
“We need to give young people, especially teenagers, another option and an alternative to knife crime and gangs. It’s about what we can offer them as an option.”
“The reasons why they [adidas and Arsenal] are doing this really resonated with me.
“I’ve got a big youth following and people always say to me: ‘Idris, you came from the same place I came from, how did you do it?’ And, it’s the same with the footballers.
“To see these two giants say we want to do something significant, specific to the culture of football, that says we are watching, we care, we want to do something – that really resonated with me. It really did.”