Arsenal begin Premier League campaign with ongoing kit blunder
- Arsenal started new season a 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest
- Team wears kit with mistake due to a significant manufacturing error
- Design flaw spotted halts sales of authentic version
Arsenal commenced their Premier League season against Nottingham Forest in an incorrect kit after a significant manufacturing mishap.
Facing Forest at the Emirates Stadium in the opening fixture of the eagerly awaited new campaign, the Gunners managed to secure a 2-1 victory.
However, the team was compelled to don a kit that features an error spotted during pre-season that has not yet ben rectified.
Kit supplier adidas had already halted the sale of the authentic version of the red jersey following the discovery of a design flaw by fans.
The north London club had introduced their new kit in May, with a subtle tribute to the Invincibles of the 2003/04 Premier League campaign.
This campaign, led by Arsene Wenger, saw Arsenal clinch the league title without a single league loss, amassing a record of 26 wins and 12 draws.
The new kit was intended to honour this achievement, featuring stitching on the white trim along the side. The plan was to embroider the 26 wins, and 12 draws in the order they occurred. However, eagle-eyed fans identified an issue in the design, pointing out that only 32 out of the 38 league results had been incorporated into the shirt's design.
Six were missing: the results of the last four games of the season, along with two wins from an earlier six-game winning streak, had beenaccidentally omitted. Since the problem was brought to light, the authentic jersey hasn't been available to purchase.
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Arsenal have confirmed the design error through an email communication with fans awaiting their new shirts. The club's message explained they are unable to fulfil orders and provided refunds.
The availability of the corrected shirts is being assessed, and in the meantime, fans are encouraged to consider the 23/24 replica home shirts, which are already on sale and also cheaper.
Reports suggest that Arsenal may not receive the corrected shirts until next month at the earliest, possibly even waiting until October.
But the authentic version, complete with error, is still having to be worn by the players amid apparent supply chain issues, as was the case against Forest. A report from The Sun suggests that it will be September, or possibly even October, before Arsenal receive their correct shirts.
This means not having the correct kit for upcoming Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Fulham in the remainder of August, with Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham and Bournemouth to follow in September. The Champions League also begins in September.
LISTEN TO 90MIN's ARSENAL PODCAST: THE CHRONICLES OF A GOONER
On this edition of The Chronicles of a Gooner, part of the 90min podcast network, Harry Symeou reviews Arsenal's Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest and discusses Jurrien Timber's injury! If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!