Arsenal 2002–04 Home Shirt – Authentication Guide
The Arsenal 2002–04 home shirt is one of the most celebrated kits in Premier League history, famously worn by Arsène Wenger’s side during the unbeaten 2003–04 “Invincibles” season. Manufactured by Nike, it features the bold red torso with white raglan sleeves, a reworked O₂ sponsor logo, and a clean, athletic silhouette. The shirt is one of the most widely faked Arsenal kits due to its popularity, with known replica issues including thin crest embroidery, incorrect sponsor font, and missing neck print on the inside collar.
Shirt Overview
- Club: Arsenal FC
- Seasons: 2002–03 and 2003–04
- Type: Home Shirt
- Manufacturer: Nike
- Main Colours: Red body, white sleeves
- Competition Use: Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League
- Retail Release: Summer 2002
- Available Versions: Short sleeve and long sleeve, replica and player issue
Design Features
- Red body with clean white raglan sleeves
- White Nike Swoosh embroidered on the right chest
- Arsenal crest embroidered on the left chest
- O₂ sponsor logo printed centrally in white with a low-placed subscript “2”
- White round collar with red inner trim
- Inner neck includes “NikeFIT” branding and heat-pressed label (player version) or sewn size tag (replica)
- Replica shirts include a woven Nike jock tag on the lower hem
Variants and Notes
- Player Issue Shirts: Lightweight NikeFIT fabric, tighter fit, and heat-applied inner labels
- Fan Replica Versions: Slightly heavier polyester, stitched sizing labels
- Youth Versions: Some use plastic Arsenal crest rather than embroidery
- 2003–04 Squad Shirts: Often feature Premier League sleeve patches and official name/number sets with the white outline font
Player Info
| Player | Appearances (2003–04) |
|---|---|
| Thierry Henry | 43 |
| Patrick Vieira | 29 |
| Dennis Bergkamp | 34 |
| Robert Pirès | 36 |
| Sol Campbell | 35 |
| Freddie Ljungberg | 37 |
| Kolo Touré | 50 |
| Ashley Cole | 47 |
| Jens Lehmann | 48 |
| Gilberto Silva | 44 |
Season Summary
Arsenal wore this shirt during the legendary 2003–04 Premier League season, completing the league campaign unbeaten – 26 wins, 12 draws, and 0 defeats – a feat not matched in the modern era. The kit was also used in the 2002–03 season when Arsenal finished second in the league and won the FA Cup. This shirt became the visual symbol of Arsène Wenger’s greatest side and is now one of the most iconic modern football shirts.
Final Notes
At Shirtchecker.com, we help collectors verify the authenticity of football shirts with confidence. The Arsenal 2002–04 home shirt remains one of the most desirable in modern shirt history. To confirm a genuine piece, look for accurate inner neck printing, high-quality embroidered crests, and sponsor alignment. Be especially wary of worn or faded prints on heavily faked replicas.
