Arsenal and adidas debut white kits as part of No More Red anti-knife crime initiative

Arsenal and adidas have debuted an entirely white kit as part of the No More Red initiative, designed to keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence.

The campaign looks to provide more safe, positive spaces for young people and spotlighting talented individuals who are making a positive difference in their community.

As part of the campaign, Arsenal players will be wearing an entirely white kit in the FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest. The kit will never be commercially available and will only ever be awarded to individuals who are making a positive difference in the community.

Following the game, the ten shirts worn by outfield players will been gifted to organisations doing work in the community to address some of the root causes of knife crime and youth violence, including Arsenal in the Community, The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, The Ben Kinsella Trust and Don’t Stab Your Future.

Other elements of the No More Red initiative includes Investing in creating and refurbishing safe spaces to play football as well as a mentorship scheme where young people doing positive work in the community will be supported by creative talent like Idris Elba and Ian Wright.

“From the time young people leave school, until the time they’re at home with family, there is often a void, a dangerous spike of nothing to do, where nothing can easily turn to something dangerous,” said Idris Elba, founder of Don’t Stab Your Future.

“If there continues to be no options for this after-school period, we will always see gangs form. Let’s create options for these young people.”

There were more than 10,000 knife crime offences in London between June 2020 and June 2021. Last year also saw the highest number of teenage murders in a year in London since records began – most of which involved knife attacks.