The New Home and Away Kits

Let me first say this:  whomever created the new home and away kits should really be drawn and quartered.  The home kit isn't as dastardly as the away kit, to be honest, but neither are good.  The 06-08 home kit was simple and classy.  The new home kit?  Hmm, how shall I put this...it's half-arsed.  Is it acceptable...yeah, with a slight netagive tone when I say that.  Is it as good as it can be?  No, not even close.  In fact, they could've kept the current home shirt and I would've been overjoyed.  Or do a fun design on the front or something, as long as it's a pure red torso with white sleeves.  That's it.  No need for redcurrant trim on the sleeves that from some angles makes it look like NO white is on the sleeves at all.  No need at all.  Red and white, the Arsenal mainstay, simple as that. 

OK, so I'll give them a little credit for some of the little things...having Victoria Concordia Crescit on the inside collar is a nice touch.  In my eyes, it ALMOST makes up for the egregious redcurrant trim on the sleeves.  I'll admit though, that a longsleeve version of the new kit would probably look good.  But for now, this short-sleeved variety just isn't quite up to snuff.  Not awful, but just below par.

Right, now on to the away shirt.  Now it hasn't been confirmed yet, but I've seen a good number of these pictures floating around this Interweb thingamajig, and here's what it looks like:

My first thought is that I'm hoping that the colors are a little more vibrant than these low-res shots.  Otherwise, it looks like puke yellow and sea grey/blue...ugly as hell.  Now if in reality, it's more of a bright, vibrant yellow and a nice deep blue, I can stomach it.  It'll be relatively classic Arsenal kit material...yellow and blue.  Again, Victoria Concordia Crescit makes an appearance...and again, I really like those little touches.  To me, any shirt has to be a balance of history and progress, as fashion goes.  Here's an example; the 07-08 away shirt (Spud white). was a rather bad shirt.  Why?  Because it was Spud white, right?

Right?

NOPE!

I could deal with the white kit.  I kinda liked it...almost like we repatriated the color.  But what I didn't like was that there was no other history associated with the shirt to actually say something to a real Gooner.  Any ol' idiot can wear a shirt and claim that they're a Gooner.  What I love is the little things that a shirt can have that make them meaningful to a true Gooner.  Now of course some will bring up the fact that it was a Herbert Chapman memorial kit.  OK, great, how about putting some of Chapman's hallmarks as a part of the shirt.  The hooped socks were a decent touch, but it almost nothing having to do with the shirt itself had anything to do with Arsenal heritage other than the badge.  So, what do I think of these new shirts?  The home shirt is actually decent...it's grown on me.  The redcurrant probably could've been done without, but I'm confidend it'll look great as Ade smashes home another cracking half-bicycle kick against the Spuds.  The away shirt?  It looks muted and pukey in the low-res shots, so I'll otherwise reserve judgement. 

'Til next time, Gooners!