Gunners switching colours

Arsenal will abandon their famous red and white colours for their final season at Highbury in favour of claret shirts modelled on the ones they wore when they moved into the famous stadium.

The champions will move into a new £357m (€514.6m) stadium, sponsored by Emirates Airline, in 2006.

And, as part of their farewell celebrations next season, they will adopt shirts similar to those the Arsenal team wore when they took up residence at Highbury in 1913.

They did not adopt their distinctive scarlet shirts with white sleeves until 1925 when they were introduced by the famous Herbert Chapman, who guided the club to their first two league championships.

Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira told Arsenal magazine: “The last season at Highbury will be very special for everyone at the club, including the fans.

“I think it is fantastic that we will be wearing a commemorative kit that represents the history of this fantastic stadium.”