Arsenal Home Shirt 2013 - 2014A promising start to the season fuelled much excited speculation that Arsenal would lift the Premier League for the 1st time since 2004. Those hopes and dreams have come crashing down around Arsene Wenger and his squad. It now seems, that after 18 years in charge Arsene Wenger may be forced to wave goodbye to the Arsenal football shirt and make way for a new manager.

Some recent, dismal performances have led to much criticism of Wenger inspiring talk of a new manager and a complete overhaul in preparation for the 2014 - 2015 season. Could it be a case of out with the old and in with the new? Nike has been partnered with Arsenal for even longer than Wenger. Nike 1st agreed a deal to manufacture the Arsenal football shirt in 1994, but it is no longer to be.

New Kit Confirmed Will a New Manager Follow!

From next season it will be the Puma logo featured on the Arsenal home kit, and all of the teams kits and merchandise. American company Nike has been dropped in favor of a lucrative deal with German sportswear manufacturer Puma. Puma has agreed a 5-year deal worth around £150m. The new Puma Arsenal football kits will be available at Soccer Box as soon as they become available, get ready to order yours despite the teams changing fortunes.

Many questions remain as to who will be managing next years Arsenal squad. Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 and was immediately successful. In the early years he led the team to 3 Premier League victories, 4 FA Cup and 4 Community Shield trophies however, no major trophy has been lifted since 2005. Wenger may be the longest serving manager in the Premier League but that does not guarantee immunity from getting sacked.

Being a Premier League football manager does not guarantee job security for most. Since 1996 Wenger has faced 153 different Premier League managers, his counterparts enjoy an average stay of less than 2 seasons. Arsene Wenger is part of the elite class of managers along with Sir Alex Ferguson to reside at a single club for many years. However, his lack of success compared to Fergie is troublesome to both the club and fans.

Highs and Lows of the 2013 - 2014 Season

All this speculation of Wenger's potential departure is a massive turnaround from a few months ago. The 2013 - 2014 season started exceptionally well for Arsenal. The Arsenal home kit sold fast as the team was formidable and sat atop the Premier League. Against mid and bottoms of the table teams Arsenal has achieved win after win however, against other top teams Arsenal has crumbled.

From their top of their table dreams Arsenal now sits 4th, 7 points adrift of leaders Chelsea but with a game in hand. Since 2006 3rd or 4th place has been Arsenal's consistent finishing position, recently the team has often had a strong start only to be let down later in the season. Let down is an understatement in regard to some recent performances.

Manchester City has been vying for the top spot all season. Arsenal was leading the league when they travelled to the Etihad Stadium to suffer a crushing 6-3 defeat that began the slide down. Arsenal was then humiliated once more at Liverpool in a 5-1 defeat, after which Wenger remained positive.  He believed that the team may still prevail, and the Arsenal football shirt clad fans may be celebrating a Premier League victory at the end of the season.

Talk is no longer of possible trophies, Wenger managed his 1000th match last weekend, and words cannot describe the disappointment on such a momentous occasion. Chelsea and manager Jose Mourinho was to be Wenger's 1000th opponent. Wenger has had little success against Mourinho in past clashes and this time round proved to be no different.

Unusually for an away game the Arsenal home kit was worn, but added no spark of brilliance or enthusiasm. Chelsea was 2-0 up inside of 7 minutes. Gibbs was sent off for Arsenal, a case of mistaken identity but 10 men was the right decision. Giving Chelsea the run of the pitch resulting in a 6-0 catastrophe for Arsenal. Wenger has admitted responsibility; will he be Arsenal manager next season? Only time will tell he was due to sign a new 2-year contract but all discussions are on hold until the end of the season.