GOAL gets the measure of the latest from the football zeitgeist, including a throwback Predator colourway and some FA Cup magic being snuffed out
Welcome to the Culture & Clobber Axis, where GOAL runs the rule over the latest goings-on at the intersection of football and culture – from the sublime to the ridiculous, the beautiful to the hideous, what's very hot and what's definitely not.
It's 2025, and the New Year has brought with it new boot drops from all the major players, new kits and plenty of weird and wonderful talking points from across the footballing sphere.
But where do the week's biggest topics from the football zeitgeist place in our comprehensive axis? Let's get into it…
adidasRed Preds are back
The adidas' Predator train shows no sign of slowing down, with the reboot of the unmistakable 'champagne' colourway late in 2024 followed up with a sizzling hot nod to the red 1998 Predator Accelerator to kick off 2025.
Predator 25 is the latest iteration of the silo, arriving in a vibrant new colourway and featuring the three stripes on the instep and outside of the boot, as well as new technology and fresh Predator branding on the heel and tongue. There is just something about a Pred in red; these hit different.
GOAL's shout: Blatant worldie
AdvertisementAFPArteta & the Carabao Cup ball
Oh Mikel, Mikel, Mikel. Rather than just taking the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle on the chin in midweek, Arsenal boss Arteta quite bafflingly decided to deflect blame away from his players, who couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo on the night, and onto…the match ball – inevitably resulting in widespread ridicule online.
"I think we kicked a lot of the balls over the bar and it's tricky that this ball flies a lot," he said after the semi-final first leg loss. "It's just different, it's just very different to the Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently." Whatever you say, Mikel.
GOAL's shout: Maverick own goal
Williamson's bespoke Arsenal jacket
We all love Leah Williamson, who is one of the most prominent ballers to toe the intersection of football and fashion as well as being an elite centre-back. Her latest foray into the fashion sphere is very cool.
The Arsenal and Lionesses favourite has donned a bespoke leather Gunners jacket designed by Antonia Bronze and taking inspiration from the 2002-04 home shirt, complete with Williamson's No.6 and 'GOONER' emblazoned across the back. As Chloe Kelly says in the comments: Hard.
GOAL's shout: Maverick worldie
The Nike 'Mad Energy' pack
Now, there's nothing objectively wrong with Nike's new boot drop, with a fresh paintjob for the Mecurials, Phantoms and Tiempos to ring in the New Year. The problem is, they're just lacking a little something.
As adidas continue to dominate with another stunning pair of Predators, Nike's three new colourways lack a bit of oomph and originality; they used a pale blue for the Phantoms last year and it's not been long since we saw a red Mercurial. It feels like the American sportswear behemoth needs to do more to keep pace…
GOAL's shout: Blatant own goal
