Arsenal wear red shorts for first time in over FORTY years for New Year's Eve clash with West Brom... but decision leaves fans split on social media

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Arsenal went old school for their Premier League match against West Brom on New Year's Eve, wearing red shorts for the first time in over 40 years. 

The Gunners faced West Brom at the Hawthorns in their final game of 2017, but decided to mix things up by wearing their home kit - with a slight change.

At the Emirates, fans are used to seeing red shirts and socks in the Arsenal home kit, but mixed with white shorts.

Alexandre Lacazette fights for the ball, wearing Arsenal's changed home strip with red shorts

One Twitter user joked that Arsenal looked like Super Mario, with white arms and a red body

West Brom's white shorts, though, risked a slight kit clash on Sunday, and Arsenal therefore opted to bring out a kit that got fans reminiscing about the old days.

Arsenal last wore red shorts against QPR in 1978, and memorably before that in 1970 in order to stand out against the wintry conditions in a snowy Boxing Day clash against Southampton.

The decision certainly split fans on social media, with one user claiming the new kit made the players look like Super Mario.

One other fan claimed the kit looked 'amazing', while another said it made the players look as though they were wearing pyjamas.   

Arsenal have not worn red shorts with their home kit for over 40 years; pictured is 1971

A match against QPR was the last time they ventured out wearing red shorts with a red shirt

Arsenal had two other kit options ahead of their red short choice, with a blue away kit and a black third kit.

Both, though, were deemed too similar to West Brom's home colours, and Arsenal decided against mixing home, away and third kits to make a suitable strip.      

Premier League rules state: 'When playing in league matches the players of each participating club shall wear strip which is of a sufficient contrast that match officials, spectators and television viewers will be able to distinguish clearly between the two teams.' 

Skhodran Mustafi dives to stop a cross from Jay Rodriguez in the match against West Brom

Arsene Wenger was taking charge of a record 811th Premier League game on New Year's Eve