Arsenal home shirt 2012/14: fake vs. authentic
The 2012/14 Arsenal home shirt is one of the shirts for which many counterfeit versions are in circulation.
A direct comparison with an original reveals various discrepancies. For example, the Arsenal logo is not quite right, the shade of red differs, and differences are also visible in the various labels.
On the counterfeit shirt used for this comparison, even the product code is correct. Checking only the product code is therefore not sufficient.
Below, we show which details you should look out for.
1. Examine the Arsenal logo
You can often see the first differences immediately in the Arsenal logo on the chest.
On counterfeit shirts, for example, the shape of the club logo is incorrect. The details in the logo, such as the cannon or the letters, are also almost never identical.
Pay attention to, among other things:
* the shape of the complete logo;
* the letters;
* the cannon;
* the proportions between the different elements;
* the small details in the finish;
The shape, the letters and the cannon in particular differ clearly from the original.
2. Examine the Nike logo
The Nike Swoosh is also an important point to check.
On the counterfeit shirt, the Nike logo is too round. As a result, its shape differs from the Swoosh on the original shirt.
The difference is not enormous, but it is clearly visible when the shirts are compared side by side.
When checking a Nike logo, therefore, do not look only at its placement or color. The precise shape and proportions are at least as important.
3. Check the size marking
Differences are also visible on the inside of the collar.
On counterfeit shirts, the size marking is often printed too thickly. The text appears bolder than on the original.
There is a grey strip below the size marking. On the original shirt, some text is still visible in it.
On the counterfeit shirt in this comparison, this strip has been filled in. As a result, the text that should appear there is not clearly visible.
4. The AFC print on the back of the collar
On the back of the collar is the abbreviation AFC with dots/circles around it.
Here too, there is a clear difference between the original and the counterfeit shirt.
On the counterfeit version, this print is too thick. As a result, the letters are not only heavier, but the entire AFC print and the dots also appear larger.
In a comparison, pay attention to both the thickness and the dimensions of the letters.
5. Color
Another difference becomes visible when the two shirts are placed fully side by side.
The counterfeit shirt has a brighter shade of red than the original.
With standalone sales photos, color is not always reliable. Lighting, camera settings, and image editing can change the color of a shirt.
Therefore, do not use the color as the only evidence that an Arsenal shirt is fake. Consider it one of several checkpoints.
6. Nike Authentic label
The Nike Authentic label is located at the bottom right of the shirt.
At first glance, the label on the counterfeit shirt looks quite similar to the original. However, when you look more closely, there are several differences.
On the counterfeit shirt:
* the text is darker;
* the font does not match completely;
* the label is heat-pressed onto the shirt.
The latter difference is especially important with this item.
On the original shirt, the Nike Authentic label is stitched onto the shirt. That is not the case with the counterfeit version in this comparison.
Therefore, do not look at such a label only from the front. Also check how it is actually attached to the shirt. This is an important detail. On the original shirt, it is always stitched onto the shirt.
7. The wash label
A wash label can contain many small details and is therefore always worth checking.
On the counterfeit shirt in this comparison, the letters are particularly noticeable.
These are lighter and narrower than the letters on the original shirt's wash label.
Without comparison material, such a difference can be difficult to spot. With both labels side by side, the difference in printing becomes much clearer.
Therefore, check, among other things:
* the thickness of the letters;
* the color of the letters;
* the font used;
* the spacing;
* the label's overall finish.
8. The product code on this counterfeit shirt is correct
The product code is often one of the first things checked when determining whether a football shirt is genuine.
But there is an important pitfall here.
The product code of the counterfeit shirt in this comparison matches that of the original shirt.
Someone who checks only the code could therefore mistakenly think that the shirt is original.
A matching product code is therefore not enough to establish the authenticity of a football shirt.
Fake shirts can copy existing codes from original shirts. Always look beyond the code alone.
How do you check an Arsenal home shirt from 2012/14?
Never try to determine whether a shirt is original based on a single detail.
Check various components and see whether they together create a logical picture.
For this Arsenal home shirt from 2012/14, you can at least check:
* the shape and details of the Arsenal crest;
* the shape of the Nike Swoosh;
* the size indication in the collar;
* the gray strip below the size;
* the AFC printing on the back of the collar;
* the shade of red of the shirt;
* the Nike Authentic label;
* the way this label is attached;
* the care label;
* the product code.
It is precisely the combination of these characteristics that matters.
The fake shirt in this comparison demonstrates that clearly. The product code is correct, but the shirt differs from the original in several other places. Of course, there are countless different fake shirts, each with different discrepancies. The points mentioned in this blog are a good checklist for all fake shirts when checking them.
Checking only the product code is not enough
A product code remains a useful part of an authenticity check. You just should not rely on it entirely.
Even when the code matches, still check the club crest, brand logo, labels, printing, color, and finish of the shirt.
The more original details you can compare with one another, the better you can assess what you actually have in front of you.
Also read:
How can you recognize an original Manchester United 2007-08 home shirt?
How can you recognize a fake Manchester United 1998-1999 shirt?
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