Bad luck or bad strategy? Arsenal's all-white EFL Cup clash with Oxford United
In the early hours of Tuesday morning (10th), English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal will face Oxford United away in the 3rd round of the EFL Cup. Prior to the match, Arsenal announced that they will continue their "No More Red" public service campaign, and the players will wear all-white jerseys for the match. Last year, Arsenal also wore this special jersey to the EFL Cup, but it was questioned by the fans, who thought it was too tight, even like "tights", and unfortunately, the team was eliminated by a goal difference in the end.
The aim of the "No More Red" campaign is to raise public awareness of the increasing incidence of knife crime in London. In particular, "No More Red" means no more bloodshed. Last year, Arsenal launched an all-white kit with their shirt sponsor, with everything from the crest to the sponsor's logo in pure white, making it look as if the players were wearing a white undershirt from a distance.
Last year, Arsenal wore all-white jerseys to challenge Nottingham Forest away from home, only to be knocked out of the competition with a 0-1 defeat. Despite this, Arsenal still believe in the significance of the event, with players who grew up in London such as team stars Bukayo Saka and Immer Welby wearing white jerseys to promote the event. Perhaps, this year, they can have a different ending.
