For most of the club’s history, the players wore red shirts with white sleeves and white shorts. The choice of red was in recognition of a donation from Nottingham Forrest, Dial Square founding members Fred Beardsley and Morris Bates could not find a kit so they wrote to their home asking for a donation and received a set of kits and a ball. The shirts were redcurrant a colour that resembled burgundy, white shorts and blue socks.

In 1933 Herbert Chapman wanted his players to be dressed distinctly so he introduced white sleeves to the shirts and changing the shade of red to be brighter. Red and white shirts have to characterize Arsenal as a team although in 1966-1967 season the shirts were all red which proved to be menacingly unpopular so white sleeves returned the following season. Also in their last season at Highbury the players wore a one off season redcurrant shirts similar to the first kit they wore in 1913 in the new stadium.

The away colours have always been blue and yellow although in 1982 and 1984 the away kit was green and navy. The away kits are generally two tones of blue or variations on the traditional yellow and blue. The 2007-2008 away kit broke away from tradition with players wearing white shirts, redcurrant shorts and hoped white and redcurrant socks, and their third kit which is redcurrant and obsidian hoops.