For the first four decades of Arsenal’s existence, the club’s outfield players wore all-red shirts.

It wasn’t until the appointment of Herbert Chapman in 1925, the legendary manager who inspired innovations across almost every facet of the club, that Arsenal began playing with white sleeves.

That style has been in place across the subsequent century, but on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal will host Manchester United in the third round of FA Cup draped entirely in white – without a drop of red in sight.

The unique design is part of Arsenal’s No More Red initiative, a joint venture launched alongside adidas to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime which exist in London and beyond. The Premier League side has invested in the formation of safe spaces across the capital, offered a connection for kids to interact with the club and shone a spotlight on the citizens already making a difference in this area.

“Knife crime and serious youth violence is incredibly complex,” Arsenal’s community outreach head Freddie Hudson said. “We don’t have the solution to fix the problem, but we know our work with adidas is helping keep young people safe and create opportunities for more positive futures.”

While Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta warned that playing in a different kit is “not something that we are used to”, he stressed that he was behind the initiative. “It’s great because we have so many people who put in so much effort, putting their lives to try to improve the quality in so many people’s lives, creating safe spaces, safe environments,” the Spanish boss noted.

“When we get an opportunity to raise that in such a big occasion, we have to do it. Well done to the club, well done to everybody that is participating in that because they put so much effort into it and the impact is huge.”

Arsenal have donned an all-white shirt for the third round of the FA Cup in each of the previous three seasons. The Gunners were victorious against Oxford United in 2023, but lost to Nottingham Forest the year before and Liverpool last season.

“There’s an immense pride you feel when you pull on the No More Red shirt,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said this week. “Having such a special connection with our supporters in our community gives us a real understanding of the people we’re representing and the role we can have as players in raising awareness around issues such as youth crime and violence.”

However, the England international and his Arsenal teammates are some of the few individuals who will ever be able to enjoy wearing the unique design. As the club revealed before Sunday’s cup tie: “The kit will never be available to buy and will only ever be awarded to individuals who are making a positive difference in the community.”