Monday, May 07, 2007

Nike's new advertising campaign insults Arsenal's history


No, that's not a photoshop picture. That's the new logo for the Nike advertising campaign, soon to be unleashed upon us.

Now, call me a sceptic, but I very much doubt Nike can communicate with the dead. Who knows, maybe they can; maybe Derren Brown is actually, secretly, a Nike employee.

But, apparently, they can tell what Herbert Chapman would want for our club, or at least what he have approved.

What's the best way to launch an innovation? Dress it up and package it as tradition. So when Nike release their new -and I'm pretty sure it must be white - away kit on us in a few weeks time, they have appropriated a legendary figure from our past, on the basis of the fact he also altered the kit and introduced revolutionary measures that pushed the club forward.

So Nike now as much as what's good for the club as Mr Chapman did. But why stop there? Nike obviously care about our club as much as he did. Why don't they do away with the red and white shirts as well? Why don't they bring out a pink polka-dot away shirt that looks really nice with distressed jeans when you're out with your mates having a pint.

All in the name of progress! All in the name of profit! That's what I say.

This was the essential point I made in my protest against the white shirt last week. Nameless suits working for big corporations who care nothing for the club, aside from the money they can make from it, are trying to milk us for all we're worth, and eroding the few traditions we have left. And in doing so, they're launching propaganda efforts, such as the one above, to win over the weak-minded.

So, fine. If you think it looks pretty, go out and buy the new white shirt. But I'm sick of these people miking our club for their financial ends, and appropriating figures from our history as they see fit. I won't by the shirt if its not yellow, and I hope you don't either, because I think the issue is larger than the shirt.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

You donut. Chill out. It's fine

Anonymous said...

We had white before we had yellow. That's what the campaign is about, tradition - the traditional white kit.

Anonymous said...

To be honest i dnt care what colour the new away kit is all i care about is if we are going to win anything next year and really all fans should be like that not kicking up a fuss just becuase the new away kit may be white dnt u think arsenal have better thing to worry about rather than listen to stupid fans complaining that they dnt want the new away kit becuase its the same colour as spurs's kit.Imature people i say

Goonerboy said...

Well, yes I obviously care about whether we win anything next year. But I also care about Nike doing with us as they see fit to make money.

It's not immature; it's immature to think that this is just about the kit.

Anonymous said...

We've had a white away kit before.

How many times do you need to be told?

Anonymous said...

I wont buy it purely because I dont like white shirts. Spurs having one is irrelevant.. But I agree you have every right to refuse to buy a shirt if you dont like it for whatever reason.
that being said..the point being made about our on field performance is 1005 spot on. Much more important.

Goonerboy said...

For how long and what seasons?

I'd like to see if anyone can answer that without Google reference.

In contrast, what have been our dominant away colours since the 1960s, in which we have famously won several competitions?

It's like when England brought out the Grey away kit in the mid-90s. Red is England's away kit, just like yellow is Arsenal's.

Anonymous said...

Hi, my name´s Alex
is our new away kit next year going to be white ??
wel my website is www.absarsenal.piczo.com
visit soon !

Anonymous said...

Thats what makes me laugh, Kroenke is made out to be the devil & the current board are saints yet it is them who give all this s*** the ok. Nike have their input but at the end of the day everything goes through the board, it is them after all who will get the extra payments if nike sell loads.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, how about we keep traditions by not having sponsors at all? Its not like Nike or Emirates are actually giving us money or anything.

In fact, why bother with a kit? Just tell the players to show up with the same colour shirt each week.

Jesus. I usually like your work Goonerboy but this is crap! You're trying to stir up a frenzy over something that doesn't actually matter on the grand scheme of things.

Anonymous said...

OK hers an idea in the name of tradition.We won't buy any shirts,(how many replica shirts did people wear in the 60's70's)this will mean Nike won't make any money and thus won't pay the club lots of dosh in a kit deal.That way everyone wins right?

Goonerboy said...

Anon 4.00, don't read my geek blog then.

And I'd love for us not to have a sponsor. I'd love for us to go back to the 70s kit of pure red and white, before just being billboards for corporations.

Still, I suppose money talks. Go and buy the new kit. If you really think this new advertising campaign does not belittle our history, I worry about the fans who are being brought up as supporters of our club.

Anonymous said...

You can tell it's the end of the season. Look Goonerboy it's a SHIRT, right? Calm down and don't bother about trivialities.

Goonerboy said...

I don't think the colours the club plays in is a triviality, and I'm genuinely amazed so many people do.

Anonymous said...

i think its pretty clear from the comments already, as well as every arsenal fan ive spoken 2 that most gooners couldnt care less about the kit we play in. for gods sake who cares of tottenham play in white, thats their home kit n this is our away kit, look at villa and west ham!! and anyway, its not like nike have th final say on our kit, the arsenal board and id imagine wenger n the players have a say as well. in other words, a hell of a lot of people who play a far more important role in arsenal that you do goonerboy and i think your bein an absolute plum, lets have some solidarity, we're all gooners,lets hope we do the treble in white next year!!

phillt14 said...

The issue is fairly irrelevant. The White Kit was leaked in November 06 - It helps EMIRATES (The main sponsor) It gets people talking - and will easily outsell a Yellow/Blue kit.

Meanwhile the Yellow and Blue will be brought back on a wave of nostalgia in 2 years time, and will receive a boost in sales.

The policy is one of commercial exploitation - we moan, but we hand over our cash

Anonymous said...

And what, pray tell, is so very wrong with making money? And how is it exploitation is people choose to buy it? Naive, very. Oh, and patronizing while we're at it.

Anonymous said...

Yep, to echo 99% of the comments already, it's really not worth getting fussed about. Our away kit is not always yellow anyway - in recent years it has been alternated with blue, with the previous year's away kit becoming the third kit.

I've got no problem with a white away kit. Remember - a change is as good as a holiday!

Now get over it.

Anonymous said...

i love the way people like goonerboy think tradition started 10 years ago. get a life son.

btw

arsenal make money from the shirts too
white was our colour beofre we thought of being canaries
should arsenal become a registered charity- i mean how vile of the club to make money- geez you dont think it helps buy players and build stadiums do you. sickening, lets all support mk dons

Anonymous said...

at the end of the day, its the badge on the shirt that counts, and any player should feel privaliged and proud to wear it, reguardless of what colour it is. I do agree completely thats this campaign is a money making scheme, and they probably drew iconic arsenal figures out of a hat and based the kit on whoever came out.

im more concerned about team affairs rather than the kit at the moment if im honest, we have plenty more things to think about like transfers and whatnot.

whether its yellow, blue, white or green ill be buying it so as long as theres a cannon and "Arsenal" involved.

Anonymous said...

White is unacceptable. When I picture Arsenal winning away i see yellow and thats all I want to see. You can bring out as many facts as you like about our history in white but NOW white is Spurs - when we aren't at home we r yellow. I won't be buying the shirt and if u do then fuck you.

Anonymous said...

Well i understand what youre trying to say goonerboy, but youre really going overboard. Maybe youre opposed to changes. But hey whats wrong with that?And youre really naive if youre upset because spurs play in white. Thats really not an issue at all. And i agree with a comment above that its the badge with the cannon that counts. Its the player's commitment and desire to excel for the club thats important, and Im sure a white away kit isn't gonna diminish that. In fact a new kit always excites the players a little bit more and might just have a bit of a galvanising effect on them during away games. And making money is vital to our title chances dont you think?And changing our kit to white isn't exactly selling out. Calm down n bring on epl 07-08 is all i say.

Anonymous said...

If you think it erodes the traditions of the cub id have to say you'd be very wrong. Without things like this id have never heard that our first ever kit was redcurrant. Now, that we ever wore white. Its not because Im not a good fan, merely that i wasn't born in 1928. Things like this give the fans a bt of spice every so often, show where the club has come from and reminds us that unlike the spuds, we can make white look good.

Anonymous said...

It looks that Arsenal are selling all out to Nike!

Don’t Mr Chapman’s family have anything to say about it?
Have they been consulted?

But I agree it does matter what colours the team plays in. White is a Spurs colour......

Anonymous said...

Ati, the last sentence sums it up "bring on epl 07/08". Its the Premiership, arsenal are red and spuds are white.

It matters alot and it downplays our rivalry with Spurs. New fans identify white as an important colour for us - we lose tradition.

Anonymous said...

As far as tradition goes, we started up with a red currant shirt and somehow evolved to red and white one same with the away jerseys. Never heard any big fuss about. Things change, thats life, thats football. Normally we get ripped off with a slightly altered jersey every time, so at least a brand new jersey offers some kind ofvalue for money for a change.

Anonymous said...

just dont buy it..
simple as that..

i dont agree with the emirates tag and stadium rename..
answer=
dont buy that kit or go to the new highbury stadium until this thieving corrupt board go!

Anonymous said...

And seriously, if you can't see what's wrong with making money out of cheap, tacky, sensationalist gimmicks? Well, only a fan who has no Fucking clue about the background, the history, and the decency of the club we're supposed to love could ask such a stupid question. Stil, seeing as we fans are seemingly moronic enough to buy this shit, what can you expect?

Anonymous said...

And seriously, if you can't see what's wrong with making money out of cheap, tacky, sensationalist gimmicks? Well, only a fan who has no Fucking clue about the background, the history, and the decency of the club we're supposed to love could ask such a stupid question. Stil, seeing as we fans are seemingly moronic enough to buy this shit, what can you expect?

Anonymous said...

I think you've just picked up on a sentiment in Arseblog and are running with it. Boring.

Anonymous said...

so what if the colour is white!
Move on you plebs!
Its not the colour of the shirt but the size of the heart behind the badge!!
As for the Yanks & Dein lets hear what they have to say and if its in the interest of the Club,Im all for it.What makes me mad is the bird Bracewell-Smith,i wont have any tell me shes got Arsenals best interests in mind!When will the board members put their hands in their pockets and bring us the 3 World Class players we need to bring the youngsters on ?
Before anyone asks I am a AB Season Ticket holder and was at THOF for many years.By the way my campaigns include Juve 80,Brussels 80,Everton Fridaynight.If you are ITK you will know what I mean EIE.

Goonerboy said...

Thank you anon 8.54. Blogger brought this to my attention, but he's not the only Arsenal fan to be pissed off by this, so why should he be the only one who comments. If we're both opposed, good: it might help change other people's minds.

Anonymous said...

I'm really bored of this story now, fact of the matter is its a 3rd strip so will barely see the light of day. I personally like it and despite your mundane ramblings to fixate on the colour of the shirt we wear is immature. No obviosuly Mr Chapman wasn't consulted directly but the label only has a picture and a famout quote from him. It does not state that he himself was consulted. Its just a label and its just a shirt. Perhaps you should direct your energy to the lack lustre team we are fielding at the moment instead of bickering about crap that doesn't matter. Its pathetic!
btw. You are aware that we already wear some white on our shirts or did you neglect to notice this when comparing us with Spurs. ffs!

Anonymous said...

Arsenal have had a white away kit for longer than they have had a yellow away kit.

The all conquering team of the 1930s wore it.

Bastin, Drake, James, Hapgood, Crayston, Leslie & Denis Compton. They all wore the white kit.

Anonymous said...

And while we're about it, let's move back to south London. I also think it was terrible when they changed the law allowing you to handle (but not catch) the ball. The game just hasn't been the same since.

Anonymous said...

I'm 53 and have followed Arsenal as my father did and my three children (31,29 and 24)do.
When I growing up Arsenal were the last team to introduce perimeter advertising. Were one of the last to introduce Shirt advertising.
Did it help our club? NO.
Herbert Chapman was an innovator and brought the club forward with the renaming of Gillespie road station to Arsenal. Numbers on shirts to name just two things.
So what if we play in White!! i'd prefer that to the ghastly yellow and blue check we had a few years ago.
Lets concentrate on our play and the performance of that team.Get behind Arsene and the board.
we need solidarity if we are to challenge Man Utd and Chelsea next season.

Anonymous said...

I prefer yellow, but as long as I can see who my team are and as long as we hasve good players in those shirts I think we have more important things to worry about.
this is all about Emirates anyway. once they disappear from our sponsorship we wont have to worry about a white kit.

Anonymous said...

Its good to recognise Chapman's influence on the club, but i don't see how a white kit moves the club forward, like he was famous for.

Anonymous said...

I heard Nike are trying to justify it by saying how well the redcurrent shirt was received and sold. I bought 2, but only because it was the first and last time I would see Arsenal in that colour and because it marked an end of era. I didnt buy it because I liked it. MASSIVE DIFFERENCE. I want us to play in yellow and dont even like us playing in blue. I respect fans who dont think it matters, but to me, it does. I wont buy the shirt, especially after the home shirt's logo started peeling of mine and I couldnt get a refund. Its time Arsenal got back in touch with the fans instead of distancing them

Rubén Uría said...

Hello! I'm a spanish journalist and I 'm looking for some information about it's true than Arsenal FC is interesting on Frank Ribery. It's true?
PD: sorry for my english, very bad

Anonymous said...

oi bellend.....if u read the arsenal website u'll see that u can get a refund on the shirts or get them swapped if the logo is peeling off...also...as long as we look pimped..who cares about the colour of our kit?lets play sum football and win sum trophies for a change.

Anonymous said...

loool this gooner iz a looser i cant believe such a sado can really get worked up over the colour of a shirt...SO WHAT!! Spurs hav white...dnt arsenal hav white in their home kit and who has a problem...nuff sed. Even if arsenal's away kit is white wont it hav another colour to go ith it.doughnut.

Anonymous said...

I could give a fuck about the color of the shirt as long as the players wearing the shirt are playing their harts out for that crest on their chest. I do agree with gooneryboy about corporate influence in the game, and it will eventually have a negative impact on the beutiful game

Anonymous said...

I dont think Ribery will be going
Bayern.Why go to a team who are not in the champions league.He wants to play in the champions league.

Anonymous said...

this is a great top whats wrong with u and to have herbert chapman is some to be proud of lets stop moaning about what colour the shirt and play some football so get on with it i have it very nice shirt nike

Anonymous said...

Look on the bright side, at least it's not like the Chelski one, otherwise we'd be fixing holes in roads or directing tarmac traffic on the M5.

And everyone knows blue is bad luck. So white is a good traditional alternative. The only problem I have with it is that it makes us look like Yiddos.