ARSENAL will take a stand against knife crime by donning an all WHITE kit for their FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest.
The bespoke shirt will kick off the club’s ‘No More Red’ campaign against youth violence in the capital.
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The Gunners are linking up with kit sponsors adidas to build on work being done with young people by their Arsenal in the Community initiative.
Megastar actor Idris Elba and club legend Ian Wright are onboard as mentors in the programme.
Elba said: “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.
“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.”
Wright added: “Every young person deserves the opportunity to express themselves. The opportunity to exist within a safe environment. The opportunity to live free from fear of violence.
“We can never accept loss of life through youth violence as ‘normal’ in our city and it’s so important that we all work together to create a better environment for young people.
“By giving young people more places to play sport, more support, and access to individuals who can inspire them, together we can help make a difference to young people in London.”
The all-white shirt won’t be available to buy – instead it will be awarded by Arsenal to people and organisations tackling the causes of youth violence.
London saw more than 10,000 knife crime offences between June 2020 and June 2021.
Last year also saw the highest number of teen murders in the city since records began – most of which involved knife attacks.
Arsenal in the Community already delivers sport and educational programmes to over 5,000 young people each week.