by Nia Griffiths

At the launch of the new 2015/16 home kit, first team players Hector Bellerin, Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, Danny Welbeck and Nacho Monreal were all in attendance to provide their opinion.

The general consensus was a good one. They all liked the look and found it to be more comfortable than the previous season’s. Although of course, if there were any parts of it they didn’t like, I’m sure they wouldn’t exactly be forthcoming with that information!

Breakthrough youngster Bellerin was the first to be asked about what he thought of the new kit.

“I think it’s really nice,” the defender said. “Obviously it’s the red and white like always you know. I think it’s got a nice feature – the collar – I really like it a lot. It’s a bit stylish and I think it’ll look good on all of [the fans].”

On the fans he said, “[The fans] play a big part. For them to be like this with me, I really appreciate it. The games we’ve had at home, they’ve been a great support for us and we’re just really happy to have given them to FA Cup.”

The Puma player also said off stage, “It’s been a good season and winning the FA Cup was a great finale. The Arsenal fans are really important for us and their support really helps us play. They were in superb form tonight. The atmosphere was electric and seeing the fans so hyped about the event and hearing them support us with such passion was brilliant. The new home kit looks good. The tradition of red and white is very important to the club and players and PUMA has done a great job of coming up with a new design that combines our traditions with a modern look.”

Next to speak, with none other than Arsenal legend Thierry Henry as his interviewer, was Nacho Monreal, who’s had somewhat of a breakthrough season himself. It’ll come as no surprise that he didn’t even have to think about what his favourite moment was this season.

“My favourite Arsenal moment is two weeks ago when we won the second FA Cup in a row. It was a really good memory, playing at Wembley with 93,000 people at the game and to celebrate the trophy with these people was something amazing.

“[My goal at Old Trafford] was lucky. [It was] probably one of my best moments. Playing at Old Trafford, scoring a goal – it was certainly amazing. I don’t score too many goals like [Thierry Henry] but it was something amazing.”

Tomas Rosicky, amid controversy surrounding his one year contract extension, was quick to make his intentions with the club very clear, saying, “There’s only one aim for us and that’s to win the title. I have to say, this squad is really big, the talent is there.”

New Gunner, Danny Welbeck then partook in a bit of banter about his ex club with Henry and the fans before saying, “Obviously it was a frantic last day (deadline day) and to get here in September and to get the welcome I got from the fans, the staff, everybody at the club really, everyone was brilliant and they helped me settle in really well.

“[The kit] is white and red. It’s a bit classic, I like it, it’s not as tight as last season’s so I can breathe on the pitch,” he added.

As with Bellerin, Cazorla is sponsored by Puma so had a few words to say behind the scenes.

“Our fans are incredible and play a really big role in our performance and motivation,” he said. “Being at the Emirates this evening and seeing so many of them chanting and supporting us was really great. There was so much passion in the crowd, it reminds us how lucky we are to have these supporters. The kit has a lovely design, classic like an Arsenal kit should be with some very nice design features.”

On stage, he spoke about our title chances next season, saying, “It was a good moment [to retain the FA Cup]. [It’s] always good to win a trophy and the most important thing is to improve next year. 

Of course [we can win the Premier League]. We have a good team and if we sign some good players we will be much stronger.”