Arsenal have unveiled their new home jersey for the upcoming 2024-25 season and for the first time in 35 years, the shirt will feature the club's iconic cannon in place of its badge.
The cannon has featured on the Gunners' away shirts in recent seasons but now Adidas, the kit manufacturer, have decided to reintroduce it to the home jersey for the first time since 1989-90 to pay homage to the team's rich history.
"We anchored this season in the iconography of Arsenal - and there is no more iconic symbol for Arsenal than the cannon," Sam Handy, SVP of product and design at Adidas, said.
"In development, we revisited the archive and reviewed years of design and collaboration, the core elements of the club's identity to players and supporters.
"So, this season is all about the cannon, the role it plays in the legacy of the club, and reintroducing it to a fresh generation of supporters and players."
The North London giants' away shirt and third kit will also feature the iconic canon but those designs are yet to be released. Star players from both the men's and women's teams took center stage in the promotional video released on the club's official X (formerly Twitter) page, including captain Martin Odegaard, fan-favorite Bukayo Saka, and Lionesses stars Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.
The new kit will make its official debut in the Arsenal Women's final Women's Super League fixture of the season against Brighton this Saturday. However, the men's team will not wear this jersey the following day in their final Premier League game of the campaign.
The Year of the Cannon
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 16, 2024
Our new 24/25 Arsenal x @adidasFootball home kit is available now
As explained by Football London, the Gunners have opted against wearing the new shirt in Sunday's Premier League clash with Everton. The reason is simple: Arteta's men remain in the title race and could beat Manchester City to the crown on the final day if they beat the Toffees and Guardiola's men slip up against West Ham. As a result, Saka and Co. will don this season's home shirt this weekend.
Arteta's men have worn the new jersey in the final game of the season in recent years, with Arsenal doing just that in the 2022-23 and 2021-22 finales against Wolves and Everton. However, in both instances, the team had little left to play for. It should be noted that Premier League regulations do not prevent the club from lifting the title in a new jersey, meaning this is merely a decision from the Arsenal higher-ups.
As revealed by the Daily Mail, there will be two identical Premier League trophies at the Emirates Stadium and the Etihad Stadium for the final day, as well as 40 medals at each venue. With the title race going down to the wire, podiums and fireworks will also be present at both grounds to promptly crown the new champions depending on who wins this season's English top-flight crown.