Why Arsenal wore all-white kit against Manchester United in FA Cup third round

Arsenal and Manchester United went toe-to-toe in the FA Cup third round at the Emirates on Sunday, in what was certainly the highest-profile clash at this stage of the competition. Instead of lining up in their usual home attire of red shirt with white and navy trim, the north London outfit donned an all-white number in support of a campaign which was launched in 2022.

Arsenal hosted Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday, donning an all-white kit instead of their traditional red and white home shirts.

The clash saw two titans pitted together, with United the current trophy holders following a 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in May.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are the most successful club in the history of the competition with 14 titles.

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And Mikel Arteta's side showcased a different look as they got their 2024/25 cup campaign underway at the Emirates, as the squad wore an all-white kit.

Since January 2022, the north London club have collaborated with Adidas in support of the "No More Red" campaign, which sets out to keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence.

Now in their fourth year supporting the campaign, Arsenal set out three core focuses in order to keep young people safe: "Investing in safe spaces to play, providing ongoing opportunities for connection, and championing community role models."

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As such, the club sent out first-team stars Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Alessia Russo to meet community heroes George Hobden, Amy Scanlon and Zak Hassan and see first-hand the effect that the "No More Red" campaign is having in the local community.

The men's team has previously pulled on the all-white shirt in FA Cup clashes against Nottingham Forest, Oxford United and Liverpool, and the women's side were also set to support the initiative in their clash with Bristol City in the FA Cup, which was postponed.

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Speaking about the campaign, Arsenal midfielder Rice said: "There's an immense pride you feel when you pull on the No More Red shirt.

"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. 

Getty Images - A detailed view of a match shirt worn by William Saliba of Arsenal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United

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

Entering at the third-round stage, Arsenal's FA Cup clash with United begins their run in the historic competition, as they set out to replicate their 2019/20 triumph - Arteta's sole trophy as manager at the club.

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