Arsenal are leading by example during this COVID-19 epidemic, as their first-team players and coaches have agreed to take a pay-cut.
Arsenal might have kickstarted a trend during this COVID-19 epidemic, but no, it’s not on TikTok or Twitter. The Gunners have announced this week that all first-team staff and players will be taking a 12.5% pay-cut to alleviate some of the financial pressure the club is facing with no matchday revenue currently entering the club. This is something that we are likely to see across the footballing world, as clubs begin to look at cost-saving options during these unprecedented times.
As for Arsenal, this large-scale pay-cut had been rumored for quite some time, and it’s nice to see the club band together during difficult times. It is said that manager Mikel Arteta is the one who managed to rally the players to support the cause – highlighting his immense and admirable leadership qualities.
Initially, it was reported that most of the Arsenal team was against the pay-cuts, however, Mikel Arteta’s intervention, along with his own willingness to take a pay-cut, made the difference in the end.
Of course, the deal is a bit more complicated than just a flat 12.5% pay-cut for everyone. The club has confirmed in their press release that players could be repaid some of the fees based on specific season targets. Of course, this is with the assumption that the 2019-20 season manages to proceed at some point this summer. This is also with the assumption that the club will receive full broadcasting revenue for those matches.
It is also rumored that 3 members of the first-team have refused the pay-cut, with Mesut Ozil, Arsenal’s highest earner by a country mile, being one of them.
Sure there will be a lot of Ozil bashing doing the rounds. But it must be noted, no-one does more for charity or for people/children in need than he does throughout the year. The work he does around the world often goes unnoticed, but it’s vast. He spends millions helping others.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) April 20, 2020
According to the Mirror, Arsenal spend a whopping £100 million on player wages over the course of a single year, and with these pay-cuts being for the course of a year, the Gunners will likely be saving themselves £12.5 million or so, which can certainly go a long way, especially when it comes to day-to-day operations.
The club might find it difficult to spend money in the transfer market to improve the squad, especially if they don’t get Champions League football next season, but luckily the Gunners have plenty of young players that deserve opportunities.