Arsenal Football Club loves making history. Today the London club became the first team to use the new Ordem 4 Hi-Vis ball.
The ball, designed by American sports brand Nike, has four colours – bright yellow, orange, purple and pink. It will be used throughout the winter to enhance visibility.
The Ordem 4 debuted today in the English Premier League. And because the first match of the weekend was played between Sunderland and Arsenal, it means both teams were the first to use the new ball.
Nike boasts that the ball, which will improve footballers’ vision during night games, is the most advanced ball ever.
“The bold Visual Power Graphic emblazoned on the Ordem 4 receives a Hi-Vis update, allowing players to catch sight of the ball quickly, helping to enable rapid decision-making and immediate reaction in the ever-accelerating sport of football,” the sportswear makers said.
In the next few weeks, the Italian and Spanish leagues will also introduce the ball during matches and in training sessions.
This is not the first time Arsenal is registering a first in the world of football. Over 100 years ago, way back in 1893, Arsenal became the first club from the South of England to join The Football League. Since then the club has been relegated only once, in 1913, and today they boast of the longest streak in the English top division.
The Gunners’ game against Sheffield United was the first English League match to be broadcast live on radio. It took place in Highbury, Arsenal’s former stadium, on January 22, 1927.
The next year, as a new English Football League kicked off, Arsenal recorded another first. The club’s players appeared on the field with numbers on their backs. That was on August 25, 1928. It was the first time numbers were written on the backs of football players. Although the English FA initially frowned at the idea, this is innovation that has come to stay.
Ten years after achieving the feat of a live radio broadcast, Arsenal became the first team in the world to play a football match that was televised live. The match, played on September 16, 1937, was an exhibition match between Arsenal’s first team and the reserves. So it was actually Arsenal versus Arsenal.
When the BBC launched its Match of the Day program on August 22, 1964, the first match highlight they screened was Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield. Decades later, in January 2010, BSkyB’s first live public broadcast of a sports event on 3D television featured Arsenal against Manchester United.
Arsenal also has the longest winning streak in the Premier League – 14 games (2001-02 season) and the longest unbeaten run – 49 matches (2003-04 season). The club won the Premier League in 2003-04 without losing a single match, an achievement that earned the side the nickname “The Invincibles.”
At the beginning of the season, Arsenal is always positioned on top of the league table since the teams are arranged an alphabetical order. However, Arsenal fans would prefer their beloved team to be on top at the end of the season. It’s been 12 long years since they enjoyed such an achievement.
Picture credit: Daily Mail
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