UEFA rules mean Arsenal will wear a special kit combo tonight that hasn’t been seen since their 2022 game against Napoli.
Arsenal will be wearing a kit combination tonight that we haven’t seen since 2022, and it means a lot to manager Mikel Arteta and some of the players. They’re playing Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in their first Champions League group game of the season.
This kit is actually a lucky charm for Arsenal—they haven’t lost a match while wearing it since 2017! Due to UEFA’s rules, Arsenal will wear an all-red kit tonight because Napoli’s home kit has white shorts, so Arsenal can’t wear their usual white shorts.
This isn’t the first time Arsenal had to switch kits against Napoli. Back in 2019, during the Europa League quarter-finals, they changed kits and won the second leg 1-0 with a goal from Alexandre Lacazette. In 2022, they wore the all-red kit again against Watford and won 3-2. The last time Arsenal wore this kit in 2017, they drew 1-1 against West Brom. Even Arsenal’s youth team wore it recently in a UEFA Youth League game against Napoli, which they won 2-1.
Arsenal and Napoli have met twice before in the Champions League during the 2013/14 season. Arsene Wenger’s team won the first match 2-0 at home with early goals from Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud, but lost the return match 2-0 in Naples.
Napoli has a new coach now. Antonio Conte left last season and Massimiliano Allegri, who used to coach Juventus and AC Milan, has taken over. Allegri spoke highly of Arsenal and Arteta before the match, calling Arsenal’s defense their biggest strength. He said, “We know this match will be tough, but we must play with pride and focus. Arteta has done a great job organizing their defense—they don’t concede many goals and work well as a team. It’s their best quality.”
Allegri also added, “We’re facing one of the best teams. The Champions League gives you special motivation and energy. We have to take it step by step but believe in ourselves, because this tournament is something we all want to succeed in. That will drive us forward.”