PREMIER LEAGUE NEW KIT SPECIAL- The strips for 2011-12

Last updated : 03 May 2011 By Daily Mail

The smartest gear for next season will soon hit the shops and you can get a first look right here as the Premier League teams unveil their home, away and third kits for the new campaign.

Some supporters will be desperate to pull on their their new strip while some will be thinking 'it's just not me' but will wear it anyway.

How many bigger-built fans have their fingers crossed their club doesn't go down the skinny-fit route Spurs went down a few seasons ago?

And before the official release there's bound to be some dodgy fakes doing the rounds on the internet.

So with a whole host of new strips hitting the stores in the coming weeks - Sportsmail brings you the best - and worst - of what's on offer throughout the summer.

ARSENALA fading title challenge aside, Arsenal don't have much to cheer these days (just take a look at the Emirates trophy cabinet) so to make up for it, the kit next season is set to celebrate their 125th anniversary.

This is the official version of the new kit, sported by defender Gael Clichy, and it looks a little lost without a white collar.

Top gun: Gael Clichy sports Arsenal's 125 year anniversary home strip for next season

There also looks to be two away numbers on the way. After getting over the initial shock of what looks like a cut-and-shut kit, fans may take to the blue Monacoesque style shirt that takes the same colour scheme as the club's mid 90s away kit.

Second take: Internet images of what the Arsenal away and third strip could look like next season

The white shirt looks to be a mock-up and Gunners fans will hope so as they won't want to be seen in a colour associated with rivals Tottenham.

All three shirts are unconfirmed but fans will hope the official home kit is a bit more exciting. Sportsmail verdict 6/10

CHELSEA They may be slightly off the pace with a handful of games to go in the Premier League but Chelsea have stolen a march on their rivals by bursting out of the traps in the fashion race.

The new home kit takes inspiration from Chelsea strips of the early 1980s with the shadow striped design on the front while the white shoulder pad has been added to make adidas' iconic three stripes stand out.

Could you carry this off on the King's Road? We think so. Sportsmail verdict 8/10

Blues brothers: (from left) How Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Fernando Torres will look

Is that a good idea? Petr Cech models the new ALL-WHITE keeper's kit while Lampard does a catalogue pose

EVERTONNo cooling/performance aiding stuff here. Le Coq Sportif look like they have gone back to basics with a simple blue shirt complimented by golden brown trim and a smart collar to match.

The same amount of thought looks to have gone into the away strip, but looks much less classy. How long does it take to think of sticking three logos on to a standard t-shirt?

Both shirts are unofficial but despite lacking all the usual scientific nonsense that come with your standard football kit, don't expect a price drop if these are the real thing.

Despite the simplicity of the home shirt design, it does look the part. Sportsmail verdict 7/10

LIVERPOOL If the Liverpool players aren't careful they'll fade into the background during their midweek matches in the winter next season with this new strip.

But then again, maybe that's what the club want, in case they have another disastrous start to the season and find themselves in the bottom half of the table once again.

Joking aside, the Anfield club have chosen a smart number for their new campaign, a top that could even look classy on the right person. They say that grown men shouldn't wear replica tops outside the ground, but that could all be about to change.

Sportsmail verdict 8/10

Black is back: Liverpool have chosen a sleek new design for next season's away kit

MANCHESTER UNITEDUnlike the team, Manchester United kits have been uninspiring in recent years and if the latest unofficial pictures are anything to go by, next season should be no different.

Afteran experiment with the black rugby league-style 'v' last season and a tacky retro number for this campaign, Nike seem to have lost all creativity and plumped for a plain red shirt with a weird collar.

Hopefully it's a fake as it looks like it was designed in no more than five minutes.

The away kit, again an unofficial picture, looks a lot like a T-shirt with its round collar. Not bad but if you're going for blue and black stripes, do it right like Inter Milan.

Sportsmail verdict 4/10

STOKEStoke fans have already been through an identity crisis this season when the traditional stripes were removed from the back of the club's home strip.

But Adidas have taken things to a new level, unveiling a new away kit that the club believes makes them resemble Inter Milan.

With the club on the brink of European football next term, even captain Ryan Shawcross couldn't help but notice the obvious link with the Italian giants.

'Let's hope we can play like Inter Milan too,' he said. 'It looks very impressive and I am sure it will be a winner with our fans.'

It's a neat enough effort from Adidas, even with that disaster of a collar. But despite the optimism of Shawcross, don't expect the Potters to be challenging for a Champions League place just yet.

Sportsmail verdict 7/10

SUNDERLAND Judging by the presence of the Premier League badge on the sleeve, the home kit was designed before Sunderland started their alarming slide down the table.

But ignoring the fact that relegation is still a possibility, this is a smart effort from Umbro, who have kept a simple design with the stripes but included a black trim around the collar and sleeves that looks neat and tidy.

Old Trafford or Oakwell - Black Cats fans will certainly look the part. Sportsmail verdict 8/10

?Click here for all the latest football news on Sportsmail OnlinePremier League kit special: The strips your team will be wearing next season

?Explore more:People: Petr Cech, Ryan Shawcross Places: Milan, New York, Liverpool, Anfield Club

Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail