Kit archive
Arsenal are the reason football kits have white sleeves at all. Herbert Chapman introduced them in 1933. Here's how the most design-conscious club in English football got to where they are.
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Founded
1886
Most famous kit
1991-93 Adidas "bruised banana" away
Current manufacturer
Adidas
Decade-by-decade breakdown of Arsenal’s home kit evolution, manufacturers, sponsors, and the stories behind each era’s most iconic shirts.
1880s–1920s
Dark red shirts (gifted by Nottingham Forest founders). White shorts, blue socks. No white sleeves yet.
Founded as Dial Square in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal munitions factory. The club quickly became Royal Arsenal, then Woolwich Arsenal, then simply Arsenal after moving north to Highbury in 1913.
1930s–1960s
Herbert Chapman introduces white sleeves in 1933. Cannon crest emerges. This silhouette defines Arsenal for the rest of the century.
Chapman's white-sleeves innovation was tactical first — he believed it helped teammates spot each other quickly — and aesthetic second. It became Arsenal's defining visual identity. The 1930 and 1936 FA Cup wins were Chapman-built sides in the new look.
1970s
Double-winning 1970-71 kit (Bukta). V-neck collar. Admiral experiments briefly with pinstripes. Umbro arrives 1978.
Arsenal won their first Double in 1970-71 in a classic Bukta kit. The late 1970s saw the first brief experimentation with sleeve trim variations, but the white sleeves stayed.
1980s
JVC sponsorship debut 1981. George Graham era brings first Adidas kit in 1986. Anfield 1989 title-winning home is a cult classic.
The 1988-89 Adidas home shirt is forever tied to Michael Thomas's last-minute goal at Anfield that won the league. JVC sponsorship became as much a part of the Arsenal identity as the white sleeves for nearly two decades.
1990s
The bruised banana (1991-93 away), JVC home, first Nike home 1994. Tan pinstripe 1994 away. Sega sponsor 1999-2002.
The 1991-93 'bruised banana' away is among the most polarising and beloved away kits in Premier League history — navy-on-yellow zigzag with Adidas three stripes. Nike took over in 1994 and produced the 1998 double-winning home with JVC. Wenger's revolution was entirely in Nike kits.
2000s
The Invincibles 2003-04 home. Redcurrant 2005-06 farewell to Highbury. Fly Emirates sponsorship from 2006.
The 2003-04 Invincibles shirt (Nike, O2 sponsor) is one of the most-valued kits among collectors. The 2005-06 redcurrant home paid tribute to Arsenal's 1913 first-season colour and marked the final season at Highbury. Nike's run lasted 20 years before Puma took over in 2014.
2015–2026
Puma 2014-19 produced some love-it-or-hate-it kits. Adidas return in 2019 with a heritage-driven approach. 2023-24 and 2024-25 homes particularly well-received.
Adidas's return in 2019 brought back retro-styled designs — the 2020 FA Cup-winning home and the 2023-24 third (purple, nodding to 1995) are recent modern classics. Arteta's rebuild era has been an on-pitch and on-shirt renaissance.
Legendary manager Herbert Chapman introduced white sleeves in 1933, believing they would help players identify each other in flight. The innovation spread across football but remained Arsenal's signature.
Adidas has made Arsenal's kit since 2019-20, returning after 25 years away. The current deal is worth around £60m per year.
JVC became Arsenal's first shirt sponsor in 1981, beginning a 18-year partnership.
The 1991-93 Adidas 'bruised banana' yellow-and-navy zigzag away shirt is the most recognised. The 2005-06 Highbury redcurrant home (marking the final season at Highbury) and the 2003-04 Invincibles kit are also iconic.
Current and retro Arsenal shirts are widely available. For current kits, the official club store and major UK retailers stock them. For retro shirts (pre-2010), Classic Football Shirts has the best selection.
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