Arsenal will wear red shorts with their home strip for the first time in 40 years against West Brom.

Due to all three of Arsenal’s kits clashing with West Brom’s home strip and Arsenal’s aversion to mixing-and-matching their kits, Arsenal will play in all red on Sunday.

Premier League rules dictate that teams must wear kits with sufficient contrast for the benefit of referees and spectators and as the home side, West Brom get first choice regarding what they wear.

As they wear white shorts, Arsenal cannot wear the white shorts of their home kit.

And as the Baggies have navy blue stripes on their shirt, Arsenal can’t wear their blue or black changed strips, either.

They could wear the shorts of their away or third kit, but Arsenal prefer not to mix-and-match kits.

arsenal red shorts
via Arsenal.com

Curiously enough, West Brom having white on their kit didn’t stop Chelsea from playing in a pale grey earlier in the season.

Nonetheless, it’ll be something of a historic occasion for Arsenal.

The last time they wore red shorts and was in 1978, in a game against Queens Park Rangers.

They were also worn in December 1977, when Arsenal played West Brom at the Hawthorns. They won 3-1.

Perhaps the red shorts will be a good omen and see Arsenal to a second consecutive league away win for the first time this season.