Why Arsenal are wearing black for the North London Derby?

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Arsenal won't be in their traditional red colours when facing their biggest rivals on Sunday

Arsenal duo Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz embrace after their victory at Villa Park in August
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal won't be able to wear their home kit for Sunday's derby at Tottenham.

One of the Premier League's biggest fixtures sees the red half of North London face off against the white half, with both sides normally wearing their traditional colours, regardless of which team is playing at home. 

But that won't the case this time around with Mikel Arteta's side having to wear their black away strip for the trip to Seven Sisters. It will mean a different look to one of the league's most iconic fixtures.

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Why do Arsenal have to wear black against Tottenham?

The Gunners have been told they have to wear black after a ruling from the the Premier League’s refereeing body (PGMOL). They have determined that Arsenal's home shirt is “too white” and clashes with Spurs’ home kit.

The visitors had reportedly offered to switch to red shorts for this game, as has often been the case in the past, but that idea was rejected.

Adidas Arsenal 2024/25 away kit for the new Premier League season

Arsenal have already won once wearing their all-black change strip - in a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa (Image credit: Arsenal/Adidas)

It means Arsenal will instead don the all-black kit they wore in the 2-0 win at Aston Villa on the second weekend of the season.

Due to the ruling from the PGMOL, Tottenham will be forced to wear their alternative colours for the reverse fixture in January 2025.

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Jack Lacey-Hatton
Jack Lacey-Hatton
Freelance writer

Jack has worked as a sports reporter full-time since 2021. He previously worked as the Chief Women’s Football Writer at the Mirror, covering the England Women’s national team and the Women’s Super League. Jack has reported on a number of major sporting events in recent years including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the ground in Australia. When not writing about the game, he can often spotted playing at a pitch somewhere in the west London area.