Arsenal Nike 2012/13 Away Kit

English Premier League side  Arsenal FC have unveiled their much-anticipated Nike 2012/13 away kit using the theme Purple Reign (also an excellent Las Vegas Prince cover band by the way). Along with the recently launched Gunners 12/13 home kit, it will be available at the following retailers in replica and authentic versions as early as tomorrow.

– World Soccer Shop
– Onionbag
– Subside Sports
– soccer.com
– Kitbag

According to Nike: Arsenal will wear an adventurous new away kit this season and its eye-catching design marks a new direction for Arsenal — it combines a rich purple base with black hoops.

Taking visual inspiration from high street fashion, the kit is on-trend and by using such a regal colour in the year of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, it also honours the Club’s historical royal links.

The Gunners were known as “Royal Arsenal” in the 1890s having been formed at the Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich, South London. Originally bearing the name “Dial Square” after one of the factory’s workshops, the founding fathers decided to merge the name of a pub they met in – Royal Oak – with their place of work.

The red trim on the shirt cuffs compliment the purple body and pay homage to the home kits that are so identifiable with the Club, whilst the differing hoop patterns on the body and the sleeves of the shirt give it a modern twist.

The inner back neck graphic takes the form of the club’s motto, ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’, the Latin for ‘Victory Through Harmony’. Meanwhile, the outer back neck graphic pays tribute to legendry manager Herbert Chapman’s innovative WM formation.

The purple and black hooped socks, bearing one red hoop each, again pay tribute to Chapman’s legacy, as it was he who introduced hooped socks — he reasoned that they would make it easier for his players to pick one another out on the pitch.

Whilst the kit combines modern sport and youth style to give the club a striking new look, Nike’s innovations give the team the most technologically advanced kit to aid athlete comfort and performance.

Check out our Kits and Jerseys section for more of the latest soccer shirts.