Viewers have voiced their discontent over Arsenal’s decision not to make the numbers on their white shirts more visible during the FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool, BBC reported.

The Gunners had announced they would be wearing the ‘No More Red’ kit for the match, part of a campaign against knife crime and youth violence launched in January 2022.

While the initiative received praise for Arsenal’s community work, viewers found fault with the design, particularly the white numbers on the back of the players’ shirts, lacking sufficient contrast for clear visibility on TV. 

Expressing frustration, one viewer questioned the decision, stating, “Which idiot decided to put white numbers on the back of Arsenal’s shirts, seriously.”

Criticism extended to social media, with comments like, “Who at Arsenal thought the white numbers would work well with the white shirts?” and concerns about identifying players without clear numbers: “I understand why, but not having the kit numbers on the Arsenal shirts be black isn’t great for being able to tell who is who.”

However, not all opinions were negative, as some comments celebrated the initiative’s purpose. Arsenal star Eddie Nketiah expressed pride in supporting the campaign, emphasising its positive impact on the community and crime reduction. Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, endorsed the kit design, praising the club’s initiative to create a safer environment and bring attention to the campaign, emphasising its positive contributions over the past three years.