Arsenal will wear an all-white kit for the first time in their history this weekend, as part of a new initiative tackling knife crime.
The team will don the Adidas ‘No More Red’ kit in their FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest, while the sports brand will also be funding new and refurbished spaces to play football, as well as creating a mentorship scheme.
Supported by actor Idris Elba and Arsenal legend Ian Wright, the project aims to address the fact over 10,000 knife offences took place in London between June 2020 and June 2021.
Last year also saw the highest number of teenagers killed in a year in London since records began – most of which involved knife attacks.
Luther star Elba spoke of the need to create options for young people as a way to lead them away from gangs.
He 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.”