Mocked at first, a cult classic later: Arsenal's legendary Bruised Banana from the 90s is back, with the colours completely reversed. The new away kit is ready to write its own history.
Arsenal and adidas have unveiled the new away kit for the 2026/27 season. The design draws on one of the most iconic jerseys in the club's history, but flips it completely: the template was the 1991 to 1993 away kit, remembered in England as the „Bruised Banana“.
Back then, yellow dominated, cut through by a wild, dark zigzag pattern. On the new shirt, the roles are reversed: a deep Collegiate Navy now forms the base, with yellow and red providing the accents on the sleeves and collar. The geometric base pattern remains, making the connection to the original instantly recognisable. The chest features adidas's Trefoil logo alongside the cannon crest in place of the club badge.
From mocked to cult classic: the story behind Arsenal's Bruised Banana
When Arsenal first wore the yellow away kit in 1991, reactions were mixed, the design regularly featured in lists of the ugliest shirts ever made. Over the years, perception flipped entirely: today, the Bruised Banana is regarded as one of the most iconic football shirts of all time, worn by club legends such as Ian Wright and Tony Adams, now a sought-after collector's item, and already reissued as a retro release back in 2019.
The pattern wasn't exclusive to Arsenal, by the way: adidas used the same zigzag design during its experimental early-90s era at other clubs too, including River Plate in Argentina.
Every Shirt Has a Story: the Arsenal and adidas campaign
The launch is accompanied by the Every Shirt Has a Story campaign, which puts the personal stories behind the shirt centre stage, from childhood memories to major moments in the stadium. Faces of the Arsenal campaign include club legend Ian Wright, who wore the original himself, Declan Rice, Chloe Kelly, and London musician Little Simz.
The away kit from the reigning Premier League champions is available now via the Arsenal and adidas online stores. It will make its first appearance in the club's upcoming pre-season friendlies.
