Arsenal forced to break 38-year North London Derby tradition after Premier League decision
Arsenal have been forced to break close to a four-decade-long tradition against Tottenham Hotspur after a Premier League decision.
Sunday will see the Gunners face Spurs in the first North London Derby of the season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side go into the game with seven points from their first three Premier League fixtures before the international break and will be looking to bounce back from the 1-1 draw with Brighton.
The fixture will see Arsenal wear their away kit in the North London Derby, breaking nearly a four-decade-long tradition in the process. Arsenal confirmed earlier this week that they would be wearing their away kit, which will be the first time in 38 years that has happened in a match against Tottenham.
The last time that the Gunners did not wear their traditional home kit for the historic fixture was in March 1986, according to Arsenal Shirt Collection, during the 1985/86 season, which saw Arsenal fall to a 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane.
It was confirmed that the decision was taken for Arsenal to wear their away kit after conversations with the Premier League and PGMOL. The Gunners stated on their club website that the club’s home kit “features too much white”.
Arsenal stated the option of wearing red shorts and socks with their home shirt was discussed, but the decision has been taken for the Gunners to wear their predominantly black away kit.
Arteta will be forced to make at least one change to his starting line-up for the North London Derby. Declan Rice will serve a one-game suspension following the two yellow cards he received during the draw with Brighton.
There is also uncertainty over the fitness of Martin Odegaard, who suffered an ankle injury during the international break with Norway. Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are all sidelined with injuries, but Gabriel Jesus is expected to return to the matchday squad.
