A decade of Arsenal kits

First off, I love a new kit reveal. I even love kit manufacturer negotiations and the idea of breathing fresh ideas into a club from a different provider. I’ll admit, I’m biased towards Arsenal going back to adidas as I don’t think Puma was ever all in being our provider. We’ve seen Nike in the past decade so they can wait for now. Adidas does not have a big club in London anymore, which is even more of a reason they need to buy this Puma deal out and end it early.

Now let’s take a look back at kits from the last decade and how I rate them. To the person screaming about me not including the farewell Highbury kit, please reread the sentence above. I will be using the seasons from 2008/09 through the upcoming release of 2018/19. I will post the kit from each year that I like the most out of the home/away/third designs.

2008/09

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

A window that brought us Arshavin and gave us that highlight reel day at Anfield. This away kit was a sharp contrast against the Reds and will always be remembered fondly in mind because of this day. The home kit of the same template loses out because of its hardly white sleeves that were just a white stripe starting at the shoulders running down.

2009/10

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

A season where Cesc Fabregas went for 19 goals and 19 assists along with his own Nike commercial for the CTR 360 made me fall in love with the Spaniard even more. The home kit from Nike carried over from the previous year and this pinstripe, navy collared shirt not only looked sharp on the field, but at the pub too.

2010/11

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Insert first home kit winner of the decade. What I imagine when I picture an Arsenal home kit, red shirt torso with white sleeves not starting at the shoulders, but right at the hem of the sleeve stitching. The long sleeve version with the red cuffs was excellent too. My least favorite away kit debuted this season, a mustard yellow with burgundy shorts. I hope they burn those in the archives.

2011/12

Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

Return of the King. “He may be cast in bronze, but he is still capable of producing truly golden moments” is commentary I will never forget. I ran around the room screaming when Henry saved us against Leeds that day. A moment of euphoria for all Gunner fans. This home kit celebrated 125 years of Arsenal and Henry’s return will be remembered in this shirt. This same year brought us the navy/teal jockey kit that Arshavin was not a fan of.

2012/13

Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Our last Nike home kit lasted two years and it went out in high fashion. A trophy drought dating back back 9 years was finally cast aside in this shirt’s second season. For that alone, this kit delivers, but the long sleeve version was even more striking with subtle side piping on the sleeves. I was a fan of this season’s purple/black hoops away kit, but Arsenal didn’t end a trophy drought in it. We did however beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in them, so it had its moment. The most Wengerball goal versus Norwich was also on display in these home kits.

2013/14

Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Wow, now this is a striking away kit. Hooped socks, contracting shorts, yellow top, and a collar. Sadly I still somehow do not own this shirt, I’ll take care of that on eBay tonight. Mikel only makes this kid look that much better, hair is still perfect.

2014/15 - the move to Puma

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The summer transfer window brought us Danny Welbeck from Manchester United and Puma as our kit provider. Puma decided to give us three options, while the home and away were a new take on Arsenal’s traditional red and yellow kits, the third kit gave us striking navy and teal diagonal stripes with navy short, teal socks and electric green numbers. On this occasion in the FA Cup, Arsenal went to Old Trafford and the former Red Devil himself Danny Welbeck scored the winner to send us through. I love that he celebrated against his former club on their home turf.

2015/16

Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Mesut Ozil got off to a hot start in what looked like the year Arsenal would finally win the Premier League again. I’d like to forget the rest of this season and only remember his assists record. This gold argyle kit could have lived in epiphany, instead we’ll forget about just like the home and third kits from this year.

2016/17

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

I’m picking this kit based on this goal from Mesut Ozil, but that kit was better because of the neon shorts. I would love to get my hands on a spare pair of those Arsenal shorts. Home kit had a weird darker red stripe down the center of the shirt. Away kit was decent, but this goal was the highlight so I’ll take the third kit here.

2017/18

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

I think this is by far the best home kit Puma has supplied us with. Its also the last home shirt we’ll see Arsene Wenger manage us in. Aubameyang, Lacazette, and Mhkitaryan were all introduced to Arsenal with this shirt. The away kit has not been kind to us at all, picking up hardly any points all season long or in Europa League with the faded blue kit. The third black and pink kit I plan to pick up once it hits discounted shelves following the season.

2018/19

You’ve probably seen our preview post of these upcoming kits and also our posts about ongoing negotiations for a new kit supplier. Click here to see this hot garbage Puma produced. I hope we buy them out a year early. Roma produced their own kits in 2013/14 because of negotiations, I suggest Vic Akers do the same so Arsenal players don’t have to advertise these for Puma. Save your money for the next brand, Puma has clearly mailed it in on their last year of the contract.