Top five Arsenal away kits of the Premier League era

dennis bergkamp


Top five Arsenal away kits of the Premier League era

By Tum Balogun

The internet is awash with leaks of Arsenal’s away kit for the upcoming season.


And with an established recent history of stellar outfits, any Gunners strip these days is welcomed with a great deal of fanfare. 


If rumours of an all-black jersey are true, it would be a first for an Arsenal away strip and mark a serious departure from the designs of old. 


In preparation of that imminent reveal, let’s look at some of the best away strips in the Premier League era. 


 

5. 2004/05 - Blue Total 90

 

A kit donned by the Gunners at the peak of their powers, this strip will always evoke fond memories for the fans.

 

The slick navy-blue jersey with the centred badge above the iconic 02 shirt sponsor made every Arsenal player look seven-feet tall and proved so popular it was used as the club's third kit in the following season. 


That season was ultimately a disappointing one for the Arsene Wenger's side, finishing second behind Jose Mourinho’s all conquering Chelsea.

 

Though Wenger’s men did claim their tenth FA Cup against rivals Manchester United in Patrick Viera’s last game for the club. 

 


4. 2001/02 - Gold Sega 

 

Another strip from glory years of old, the 2001/02 entry is a stunning design, iconic in Gunners folklore. 


Titanic battles against Manchester United, forays into Europe, and - of course - that glorious Robert Pires lob at Villa Park. 


Arsenal claimed their second domestic double in four years in that campaign, winning the league by seven points ahead of second placed Liverpool. 


A vintage Wenger side then bested London neighbours Chelsea in the FA Cup final.


 

3. 2002/03 - Blue Wave 

 

By the following season Sega out as shirt sponsor. In were O2 who graced Gunners kits for several successful seasons.


The navy exterior of the jersey was finished with an intricate light blue wave with red trimmings. 


Yet another FA Cup was secured in the 2002/03 season, this time through a 1-0 win over Southampton at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.


Though in the league, it was a crushing second placed finish behind Alex Ferguson's United. It still has to go down as one of the great away shirts.


 

2. 1995/96 - Blue Lightning 

 

The year before Wenger first touched down on these shores, the Gunners came out with another vintage design. 


Navy and yellow, as we’ll see in our next entry, have always been a staple of Arsenal second strips but the 1995/96 edition put a cool twist on the genre. 


Made by then shirt manufacturers, Nike, the kit sported two shades of Arsenal blue separated by a couple of off-centre thunderbolts. 


This one has been somewhat lost to time, as its appearance in the 1995/96 coincided with disappointing on-field performances, the highlight of the campaign a semi-final berth in the League Cup. 


Bruce Rioch’s side finished a distant fifth in the league with just 63 points from their 38 games. 

 


1. 1992/93 - Bruised Banana 

 

There was only ever going to be one winner in this category, the Gunners away strip in the first season of the Premier League continues to inspire modern day editions. 


The launch of Arsenal’s 2019/20 jersey, an homage to the iconic strip, was accompanied by an elaborate nostalgia filled promo of the ‘bruised banana’ and its enduring legacy. 


And it continues to regularly rank among the very best strips of the Premier League era for any side. 


A common theme for most of these entries, Arsenal secured another of their 13 FA Cups after winning the League Cup at Wembley, on both occasions triumphing at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday. 

 

The less said about the tenth placed league finish the better. 

Photo credit: Getty Images 

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