I am a complete sucker when it comes to Arsenal kits. The remakes of classics, original designs, you name it, I love it. The launch of the new away kit for the 2022/23 season, though, has taken kit design to a whole new level for me.
Arsenal’s new away kit sports a black and grey design with the dark background having a lighter grey form the ‘AFC’ three-dimensional graphic that interconnects across the shirt. The club badge, sponsor and Adidas logo come in light bronze, which could easily be seen as gold depending on the lighting.
The success of the design has been immediate. According to Red Action Gooners, sales passed the £1million threshold.
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This is a new record for the club, with no other kit so far being able to match the feet. This is purely just first-day sales too. There will be further purchases with Christmas still to come, which is another popular time for kits to be bought as gifts.
To put it into context, in just one day, Arsenal could have paid off Gabriel Jesus' reportedly monthly salary with this amount. According to 90min, the Brazilian became the club's highest-paid player and is on an approximate £250,000 per week.
Jesus is relevant because the striker was likely one of the most popular figures for supporters to choose to sport on the back of their shirt. Having scored three goals in his first two preseason appearances, the 25-year-old has made quite the start to life in north London.
For me, it had to be Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian has been an integral part of improving Arsenal's football under Mikel Arteta as the Spaniard implements his style of play.
In an interview alongside American Arsenal fan and activist Aston Mack, who had a big role to play in the kit's release, Odegaard was given the expectations. He took it on board as we would hope.
"The top four is a big thing for us," Odegaard said. "I'm not going to lie, that's where we want to be, so [we want to] improve from last season, top four, maybe a trophy. That would be good."
Mack, though, was quick to respond, "Top four is the bare minimum." Odegaard replied with a smile, "The pressure is on now. We have to deliver."
Deliver they must. With the additions made this summer, Champions League qualification should be, as Aston says, the bare minimum expectation as the club aims to reassert itself as a force in English football and challenge again for the biggest honours.
If they achieve it, what a kit it will be to see it happen. One of the best, without a doubt.
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