Ray Parlour to join away kit launch party

Arsenal supporters will finally be able to get their hands on the Club’s new away kit for 2012/13, when it officially goes on sale today, Thursday, August 9.

To celebrate the striking new purple design hitting the shelves, former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour will be on hand to welcome supporters into The Armoury from 6pm.

The ‘Romford Pele’ will be joined by chart-topping pop duo and Gunners’ fans Rizzle Kicks, who will perform the track, ‘Demolition Man’, which featured in the promotional viral for the new strip.

Please note that entry on the night will be strictly limited to the first 500 customers.

Unveiled to fans last month, the 2012/13 away kit, which combines a rich purple base with black hoops and red trim, will give the team a striking new look on the road for next season. The first team debuted the kit on the recent Asia tour and got off to a winning start as they defeated a Malaysia XI 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur.

The new design also pays homage to the Club’s historical links, with the inner back neck graphic taking the form of the Club’s motto, ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’, the Latin for ‘Victory Through Harmony’, while the outer back neck graphic pays tribute to legendary manager Herbert Chapman’s innovative WM formation.

The purple and black hooped socks, bearing one red stripe each, pay tribute to Chapman’s legacy and his introduction of hooped socks to make it easier for players to pick each other out on the pitch.

As well as the striking new look, the kit will also be the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly to date, thanks to Nike’s innovations. Each kit (shirt and shorts) is made using up to 13 recycled plastic water bottles, and out of fabric that is up to 23 per cent lighter than previous designs.

Arsenal’s retail director Nick Peel said: “We have had a great reaction to the design which will really make us stand out. We know it‘s going to be particularly popular with younger fans.”

The kit is available to pre-order now at www.arsenaldirect.com and will be available in stores from Thursday, August 9, with shirts priced at £45 for adults and £35 for juniors. Please note that due to unforeseen problems with the Club’s manufacturers, the black away shorts will not be available until the end of September.