Why are Arsenal wearing special white kit vs Manchester United in the FA Cup

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Arsenal will step onto the pitch this weekend for their FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester United, donning a white kit at the Emirates Stadium instead of their iconic red-and-white. The decision aligns with a consistent pattern over the past three seasons during the same stage of the competition.

The Gunners have previously worn white against Nottingham Forest, Oxford United, and Liverpool as part of the 'No More Red' campaign. Launched in 2022, this initiative is a collaboration with Arsenal in the Community aimed at raising awareness and combating knife crime.

The club has made it clear that the special edition white kits are not available for purchase by fans and won't be auctioned off. Instead, they are exclusively awarded to individuals who contribute positively to the community.

The 2025 announcement regarding the return of the white kit stated: "Adidas and Arsenal are proud to announce the fourth year of No More Red, a joint initiative first launched in 2022 to support and build on 40 years of Arsenal in the Community's work to help keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence.

"No More Red continues to evolve and grow, with a commitment to support young people through three core focuses: investing in safe spaces to play, providing ongoing opportunities for connection, and championing community role models.", reports Football London.

Arsenal Women are set to follow in the footsteps of their male counterparts by donning an all-white strip this weekend in a stand against youth violence. As they prepare for their FA Cup match against Bristol City at Boreham Wood on Sunday, they will be sporting the 'No More Red' campaign kit, which was worn by the men's team before their clash with Manchester United.

Declan Rice expressed his sentiments about the initiative, saying: "There's an immense pride you feel when you pull on the No More Red shirt."

He added, "Having such a special connection with our supporters in our community gives us a real understanding of the people we're representing and the role we can have as players in raising awareness around issues such as youth crime and violence."

Rice also mentioned, "Their stories give us inspiration which fuels our performances. Our community drives us forward, and we win together."

While the campaign's positive impact is undeniable, Arsenal will be keen to break their recent FA Cup curse; since adopting the white kit in the 2021/22 season, they haven't progressed past the fourth round.

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