Arseweb was genuinely pleased to see the photo in Sunday's matchday magazine of the new home kit, modelled (we think?) by Matthew Upson. We only express the doubt because the model in question was on his feet.

It really looks like a classy - and classic - affair, a basic red and white shirt which, with its round neck, recalls the glory days of Ian Wright's rolled-down collar (circa 1995).

But we must express genuine horror at the new away kit. Dark blue shorts, sleeves and socks - all fine. But the body of the shirt is a revolting beachwear affair: fading from a royal blue, through white, to a sky blue colour.

We could probably express some concern at the added expense to poor parents of buying two kits this summer instead of only one: but frankly, nobody in their right mind will be buying the away shirt. Better, surely, to keep your fingers crossed that we draw Barcelona in Europe... and have to bring out a third.

The awful truth - and we mean awful - is available on Arsenal.com.

Simon adds...
No such luck. Further investigation reveals a 'small print' message buried within Arsenal.com: 'The club will be playing in new Home and Away kits from the 2002-2003 season. The current gold designed shirt will only be used as an alternative, in the event of a colour clash with both of the new shirts.'

Rupe adds...
Chris Cotton points out that the colour scheme of the away shirt, with that dark-blue-to-light-blue fade, is remarkably similar to that of O2's advertising (see here). Which presumably explains the club's unfortunate departure from yellow for the second shirt.