Revealed: Why Arsenal must put on away package when the face Tottenham

Arsenal have been told they cannot wear their traditional red-and-white home kit in Sunday’s north London derby at Tottenham after the Premier League and referees’ chiefs said there was ‘too much white’ in it.

It will be the first time for 38 years that Arsenal have worn their away kit in the fixture after the Gunners’ red strip was bizarrely judged to be a colour clash with Spurs’ white home kit.

Arsenal tried to come to a compromise, offering to instead wear red shorts and socks with a white shirt, but that was rejected.

As a result, they will be playing in their black away kit in the crunch fixture. It is understood Arsenal were informed of a potential problem before the season started but it was too late to change the kit design by then.

The decision by the Premier League and referees’ chief also means Spurs must wear changed colours when they visit the Emirates Stadium for the return match on January 14. 

Arsenal will have to wear their black away kit when they face Tottenham on Sunday

Arsenal usually wear their home shirt when they face their north London rivals away

The Premier League deemed that there is too much white on Arsenal’s home shirt

Arsenal face an anxious wait after captain Martin Odegaard suffered an ankle injury

Meanwhile, Arsenal are nervously awaiting updates on the ankle injury suffered by captain Martin Odegaard on Monday night.

Norway’s Odegaard twisted his left ankle in a 2-1 Nations League victory over Austria and immediately required medical attention.

The playmaker had to be helped off the pitch and flew back to London on Tuesday morning, when he was assessed by Arsenal’s medical staff.