Remembering Arsenal’s 1991–93 ‘Bruised Banana’ Away Kit

Arsenal’s 1991–93 away shirt, made by adidas and sponsored by JVC, was a yellow V-neck covered in dark zigzag chevrons. People called it the “bruised banana” and meant it as an insult. More than thirty years later it is one of the most requested retro Arsenal shirts. Adidas even built its 2019 comeback with the club around it.

What is the Arsenal “bruised banana” kit?

It is the away shirt Arsenal wore in the 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons, at the end of the club’s first adidas era (1986–94). The base is a bright yellow. Over it runs a jagged, dark geometric print that looks, depending on who you ask, like bruising on fruit, camouflage or a 1990s screensaver. It has a V-neck collar, adidas stripes on the shoulders and the JVC logo across the chest. In other words it has every sign of the period.

Nobody has a reliable record of who first called it the “bruised banana”. What is clear is that it started as a dig. The yellow looked as if it had been knocked about, and the name stuck to the shirt long after the people who mocked it had moved on.

Why was it so divisive in 1991?

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Context matters. Arsenal had just won the 1990–91 league title under George Graham, with Tony Adams as captain and a reputation built on a hard-to-beat back four. Their home shirt was red with white sleeves and no fuss. Then the away kit arrived looking like nothing a title-winning English side had worn before.

Early-90s kits from every big manufacturer were moving towards loud, all-over prints, so Arsenal were not alone. They were, though, one of the most traditional clubs to go that far, and the gap between the club’s image and the shirt is a big part of why it still gets talked about.

Which matches is it remembered for?

Its most famous outing is one Arsenal fans would rather forget. In the FA Cup third round in January 1992, the reigning champions lost 2–1 at fourth-tier Wrexham. Wrexham play in red, so Arsenal were in their away colours, and that afternoon became part of the shirt’s story.

It also belongs to the early Ian Wright years. Wright joined from Crystal Palace in September 1991, just as the kit came in, and he is still the player most fans picture in it. When adidas brought the design back in 2019, Wright appeared in the launch.

One myth is worth clearing up. Arsenal won both domestic cups in 1993, beating Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup final and in the FA Cup final replay, but they did not wear the bruised banana in either final. Both finals were played in the red-and-white home kit, so the cup double belongs to that shirt.

How does it compare with the other Arsenal adidas kits of the era?

How did the bruised banana come back?

Adidas returned as Arsenal’s kit supplier for 2019–20 after 25 years away, and the first away shirt of the new deal was a yellow kit with a shaded zigzag graphic. It was a clear nod to 1991. Later that year, in December 2019, adidas Originals went further and reissued the 1991–93 shirt itself, alongside a small range of training pieces.

The club has also told the story on its own channels, in an “Arsenal By Design” film about the shirt featuring Ian Wright and players from the women’s team. That is quite a turnaround for a design that was a punchline in its first season.

Why do collectors rate it so highly now?

There are three reasons. It is instantly recognisable, so it works as a statement shirt away from the ground. It sits at the point where Arsenal moved from the George Graham era towards the Premier League, so it carries a lot of memory for fans who were there. It also suits how retro shirts are worn now, oversized with jeans or trainers, better than plainer designs do.

Original match-worn and period replica shirts change hands for serious money. If you want the look without the vintage price or the worry about wearing a 30-year-old shirt, a modern remake is the practical option. Our guide to retro remakes vs vintage originals explains the trade-offs.

Where can I buy an Arsenal 1991–93 away shirt?

We stock a remake of the Arsenal 1991/93 away shirt at $45.99, and there is also a long-sleeve version for the winter. It sits with the rest of our Arsenal shirts and the wider 1990s retro collection.

• Dispatch and delivery: dispatched within 3–5 business days, then 10–20 business days to Europe, the UK, the USA and Canada, or 20–30 business days elsewhere.
• Shipping: $5 for a single item, free when you order 2 or more.
• Returns: 14 days. Shirts personalised with a name or number are excluded.
• Fit: remakes follow a modern cut rather than the boxy early-90s shape. Check our chest measurement size chart before ordering.

433FC is an independent retailer of replica supporter shirts and is not affiliated with Arsenal, adidas or any club, league or manufacturer.

For more from the same club, see our Arsenal retro shirts guide and Thierry Henry’s 2004–05 shirt. For other kits from the era, start with our list of iconic retro football kits or Liverpool’s 1995–96 green-and-white away. To keep a yellow shirt bright, follow our washing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called the bruised banana?

The yellow shirt is covered in dark zigzag shapes that made it look like bruised fruit. The name began as mockery in the early 1990s, and it is now used affectionately by fans and by the club itself.

Which seasons did Arsenal wear the bruised banana kit?

It was Arsenal’s away kit for the 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons. It was made by adidas and carried the JVC sponsor.

Did Arsenal win the 1993 cup finals in the bruised banana?

No. Arsenal won the 1993 League Cup and FA Cup in their red and white home kit. The bruised banana is better remembered for the 1992 FA Cup defeat at Wrexham.

Has the bruised banana been reissued?

Yes. Adidas based Arsenal’s 2019–20 away kit on it and reissued the original 1991–93 design through adidas Originals in December 2019. Remakes are also available from retro specialists, including 433FC.