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Okay, let’s talk about finding proper Arsenal hats. Look, I needed a new official one before the match last weekend, but didn’t want trash knockoffs or spending hours hunting.
Started Like Everyone Else
Grabbed my phone, opened Google, and just typed “buy arsenal hat” like an idiot. Got blasted with random sports sites, eBay listings, and stuff I’d never trust. Saw cheap ones for like £5 – obvious fakes with wonky badges. Felt pointless.
Checking Physical Stores First
Hit the local sports shops in town:
- JD Sports: Had Premier League hats but mostly generic crap. Few Arsenal ones were plain black without any proper design. Basic.
- Sports Direct: Worse than JD. Older kits, no proper hats at all. Just cheap scarves and keychains.
- High Street “Footy Shops”: Three small stores near the station. Found a wool beanie with the cannon, but tag felt cheap. No hologram sticker or official tags. Dodged that bullet.
Wasted a whole afternoon walking around. Nothing felt legit.
Moving Online Properly
Sat down with coffee, ignored Google, and aimed straight at the big names I knew:
- Adidas Official Site: They MAKE the gear, right? Searched “Arsenal”. Found one beanie – clean, simple. But £25 before shipping. Felt steep for one hat.
- Fanatics Global: Heard people use them for US sports stuff. Loads of Arsenal hats! Snapbacks, beanies, bucket hats. Prices alright, around £15-£20 mostly. Delivery took a week though. Solid option if you can wait.
- JD Sports Online: More choice than the physical shop. Found a grey marl hat with a cannon embroidered on the side. £18. Almost ordered, then saw shipping was £5 extra. Nah.
The Final Winner
Got annoyed, went straight to the source. Arsenal Direct website:
- Hats section was huge. Proper selection – beanies, caps, trapper hats even.
- Saw the black New Era 9Forty cap with the cannon center front. Official tags, holographic stickers, everything.
- Paid £28. Yeah, pricey. But got it next day delivered to a pickup shop near my place. Held it… proper quality, thick stitching.
Happy now. Stupid hunt took days but learned:
- Bothering with random shops? Forget it.
- Adidas site has quality, but limited.
- Fanatics has loads, good for specific designs.
- Arsenal Direct? Best if you want legit gear fast. Paid more but saved time.
Anyway, match tomorrow. Hat sorted. Over and out.