Arsenal enter the FA Cup at the third round stage this weekend, taking on rivals Manchester United. What is unusual about the fixture is that they won't be wearing their usual red-and-white home strip despite playing at the Emirates Stadium.

However, this fact becomes a little less confusing when realising that Arsenal have actually done this in each of the previous three campaigns for the FA Cup third round.

Against Nottingham Forest, Oxford United and Liverpool white has been the colour of choice, and it actually comes down to the 'No More Red' campaign - an initiative launched in 2022 working alongside Arsenal in the Community to help raise awareness of and tackle knife crime.

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There have and never will be replicas of the white kits sold to supporters, nor will the match-worn shirts be auctioned off. The club say those made 'will only ever be awarded to individuals who are making a positive difference in the community'.

2025's announcement of the white kit returning read: "adidas and Arsenal are proud to announce the fourth year of No More Red, a joint initiative first launched in 2022 to support and build on 40 years of Arsenal in the Community’s work to help keep young people safe from knife crime and youth violence.

"No More Red continues to evolve and grow, with a commitment to support young people through three core focuses: investing in safe spaces to play, providing ongoing opportunities for connection, and championing community role models."

Last season Arsenal Women joined in on the initiative for the first time. Now as they also embark on their FA Cup journey this weekend, they too will wear the all-white strip against Bristol City at Boreham Wood on Sunday.

Prior to the men's Man United clash, Declan Rice told the club: "There's an immense pride you feel when you pull on the No More Red shirt.

"Having such a special connection with our supporters in our community gives us a real understanding of the people we're representing and the role we can have as players in raising awareness around issues such as youth crime and violence.

"Their stories give us inspiration which fuels our performances. Our community drives us forward, and we win together."

Whilst the good of raising awareness of the cause cannot be argued, the Gunners will hope they can end their hoodoo since they took up wearing white in the FA Cup. Since the 2021/22 campaign, they are yet to advance beyond the competition's fourth round.