Arsenal have been instructed to wear their away kit for this weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, a decision stemming from a colour clash deemed problematic by the Premier League and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

For the first time in 38 years, Arsenal will don their away strip at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, instead of their traditional red-and-white home kit.

The issue arises from the new Arsenal home shirt, which the Premier League and PGMOL have ruled features too much white, clashing with Tottenham’s predominantly white home kit.

Arsenal had attempted to reach a compromise by proposing to wear their red shorts and socks with the home shirt, but this solution was rejected by the authorities.

The decision is driven by the ridiculous concern that the white elements in Arsenal’s home kit could create confusion during the match, despite the fact that Tottenham’s current strip includes significant amounts of blue on the side of the shirt, sleeves and shorts.

The Arsenal home kit for the 2024/25 season includes more white than its predecessors, a design choice aimed at modernising the classic red shirt.

However, the increased white panelling has been judged sufficient to warrant a change for this fixture. This ruling means that Arsenal’s distinctive red kit will not be seen in the derby, a significant departure from tradition.

Arsenal’s away kit, which will be worn instead, is a black design created in collaboration with adidas and the British African heritage brand Labrum London. This kit has been praised for celebrating the club’s connection with the African diaspora in North London and beyond. The black away strip has already seen success, worn when Arsenal claimed victory against Aston Villa last month.

This decision not only impacts Arsenal but also has implications for Tottenham’s future fixtures. Spurs will be required to wear their away kit when they visit the Emirates Stadium in January, ensuring that the same colour clash issue is avoided.

The ruling reflects a strict approach to kit clashes, which the Premier League and PGMOL argue is necessary to prevent any potential confusion during matches. While the decision has sparked some debate among fans and pundits, who view it as overly stringent, the authorities have stood by their choice.