When the headlines first came out about Arsenal and the five point pay reduction plan, it’s fair to say that most of us on here were in support of it. However, we pretty much agreed that if players were expected to accept a reduction in salary, then so should the management team. Well, they have, or at least they are going to. For a period of twelve months and 33%, not the miserly 12.5% the players were asked to take.
Well, they’ve done exactly that. A club statement read:
Our owners, Kroenke, Sports & Entertainment, are fully committed to supporting Arsenal through this challenging time.
We are also carefully controlling our costs. We have stopped most capital spend, and our discretionary operating expenditure is being strictly controlled. Earlier this month, our executive team volunteered to waive more than a third of their earnings over the next 12 months.
The players need to get on board. Take the 12.5 pay cut and do the right thing. Think about the bigger picture here and that’s the club who has always looked after them regardless of whether they are fit or not, playing or not, misbehaving or not. Under performing or not.
Personally, I think they’ll agree the proposal, or at least most will because compared to what some of the Spanish clubs have had to do, 12.5% is a small loss.
I read yesterday that EFL clubs are in talks with the powers that be over a pay cap being introduced. A sensible move I think and one which should in my opinion be introduced in the top leagues around Europe. All of those league’s do still continue to be supported by fans using a Ladbrokes promo code for 2020, despite the halt in action and the issues arising. Money in the game is obscene and as we’re witnessing right now, when the game stops, so does the income. I know this Covid-19 pandemic has taken the world by surprise and couldn’t have been planned for but whose to say something similar won’t break out again? No one knows. But to not learn from this would be foolhardy and perhaps irresponsible.
Arsenal are struggling financially because of its wage bill. A wage bill allowed to spiral out of control by the previous regime. In a years time, if not before, when the likes of Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Mikki etc have gone, that large bill will be hugely reduced. Players who have joined the club since Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis left are on a more realistic salary. Realistic in terms of football I mean, not real life of course. Signing younger, less experienced but vastly talented players with great potential is the way to go I think. For now anyway and certainly until we’re back in the Champions League. We’re rather fortunate in many ways as we have a lot of younger players coming through the academy who are showing great potential. They’ll either make it with Arsenal or make money for Arsenal so it’s win win really.
As far as this summers transfer window, I think many Arsenal fans are resigned to thinking it’ll be a quiet one for Arsenal, a quiet one for most clubs I’d have thought but that won’t stop the rumours.
Two for Arsenal today:
Axel Disasi – a 6’ 3” French defender who Arsenal ‘are in talks to sign’ according to The Daily Mail. His price is £15 million the report says and Reims don’t want to lose him for nothing next summer. A five year deal is being discussed.
Arsenal are “very close” to announcing the signing of PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa on free transfer, Spanish reports say. Or rather many headings on NN, including the Daily Mail say.
Cheap or free makes sense. I hope Raul and Edu can find one who plays in midfield…
Stay safe guys and stay healthy.
But most of the players who move on free transfer are benched players who have problem with there performance. why dont we buy ready players who can go straight to the squad?
Good morning Rico.
Another warm and sunny Norfolk morning, it’s good to be alive.
I’m afraid that however sensible it may seem, a universal pay cap is never going to be agreed by all the major leagues in the World. There are just too many greedy b*****ds in with their noses in the trough.
So, two more defenders on the radar, another centre back and a left back. It seems that our executive team are intent on shoring up the defence in a determined effort to stem the flow of conceded goals. Something Old Mother Wenger was never able to do.
If the latest rumours are true, and the players actually join the club, we should have a pretty robust defensive set up. Time for the spotlight to be turned onto our midfield needs.
Morning Rico/everyone
What a beautiful day here in Essex too.
This Kurzawa signing makes sense, I wonder if it means the end for Kolasinac, he might be hard to move on, I’ve read he is on big wages.
Just a thought, it’s been widely reported that 1000 players from Leagues 1 & 2 will be out of contact in the summer. Why don’t Arsenal sign up some of the younger ones? Worth a punt, if just one makes it, it’s an easy win.
Kolasinac on £100,000 a week, Limey.
Morning Cicero, Limey.
Who knows re a pay cap, I certainly don’t think it can be ruled out. Not now, not after this.
Limey, great idea, some of them must have what it takes.
Hi Rico and all maybe now is the right time to let all players over 28 go and let Arteta start from scratch with a young team as you said Rico if they turn out to be great players and want to leave at least they will be worth some money, As much as I don’t like Arteta as a coach I would be happy to support him if we go down the path of young players. All I ask is to stay away from buying injured players.
I still thing there will be big money spend by the richer clubs who owners are willing to pay and try to win trophies.
Kurzawa will be 28 in September, would Arsenal actually offer him a 5 year deal?
Is Joorabchin his agent, is this another favour for one of Raul’s mates?
And are we talking Kolasinac level wages, or another player almost impossible to move on?
What would it actually mean for Kolasinac or for that matter Tierney, does Raul envisage a quick turn around on Tierney and a quick profit, probably from Leicester who are very well off – I really hope not?!
What’s the situation with Saka, are we really going to cash in on him because we can’t agree a new deal, remember Saka has the same agent as Sancho?
Those clubs are getting to be a rarity at the moment .
To hike a price you need a market auction scenario but if there is a shortage of cash the price will go down. Good for buying but bad for selling .
Already there are waves at Barcelona with 6 directors resigning over the running of the club. They are accusing the President of falsifying claims and setting up a social media channel to air his views . That leaves Real Madrid as the only one there . France and Italy are flat broke Juve and PSG are the only ones there and the Germans Bayern are not known for over spending , they just buy locally where they can control things.
That leaves 3 clubs with money in the Premier City , United and Chelsea none of the others although having rich owners have the infrastructure to splash cash in the 50 million level.
I think our sales will be more to reduce the wage bill , the transfer fees will as I said yesterday re- align themselves.
Perhaps it all might loosen the grip of super agents although I reckon that they will find ways around it.
Hi Geoff.
Can’t see a five year deal being offered either, makes no sense at all.
Said the same in the post, reduce the wage bill by offloading the older and higher paid players and then we’ll be back in a good place. Or at least a much better place financially. Selling Ozil would make an impact on our finances..
I think George Graham’s first signing was from Colchester, Perry Groves.
If it was good enough for George…
Exactly. Didn’t Deli Ali come from Milton Keynes…
For me, the major deals of this summer would be tying down Martinelli and Saka, if we did that and didn’t sign anyone else then I’d honestly say that I’d be happy with that.
If we sell Aubameyang then so be it, the same applies to Lacazette imo…
The young French kid from Reims makes sense and is just the kind of deal I want us to make at this stage of where we are as a club, that’s a club fighting for the Europa, that’s it…
I just don’t see a left back as a priority, if we do sign him I’d be delighted to be wrong, we’ll see I guess?
Is Torrieira the answer to our midfield?
I like him, always have, but he has limitations due to his stature especially in English football where size matters. We keep on hearing, probably from his agent, that he wants to return to Italy and if that comes to pass then we’ll need to replace him and pronto. That’s a position that is a priority to me, as will be a centre forward if we lose the two big boys up front.
Another place to be looking for players is Greece. The country is flat broke we could probably get one of their top players, plus a Greek island for €25 million.
Good afternoon, Rico.. thank you for the post 👍
Earlier in the year Grimandi advised against going for Kurzawa, due to his lack of hunger and little improvement. Whenever I’ve watched PSG, I’ve not been overly impressed…as you and others have stated – the midfield is surely a priority! Cheap or free as you say, will no doubt be the way to go – just not Lichtsteiner again 😂
I’m all for a pay cap!!! Would love to see that…
https://mobile.twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1250836531893370881
I don’t see a left back as a priority either. Not if Kolasinac stays that’s for sure.
Midfielder for me every day of the week. Just him and I’d be happy as well as tying down the younger players.
Afternoon Sue, I think we’re linked to him purely because he’s free.
Captain Bellerin it seems I reckon.
If this is true then I’ve totally got it wrong about whether or not Stan Kroenke can use his own money to help the club.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-8227163/Arsenal-close-pay-cut-agreement-players-following-intervention-Mikel-Arteta.html
Not sure if this has been put up on here guys because I haven’t been in the house all week. But, get a few beers in for Sunday from 19-00.
BT Sport 1 from 19-00 have four Arsenal games highlights.
19-00….Arsenal 3 v Juventus 1
19-30….Arsenal 4 v Leverkusen 1
20-00….Inter Milan 1 v Arsenal 5
20-30….Arsenal 7 v Sparta 0.
Enjoy
His first job as head coach and he’s getting £5 million a year. No wonder Arteta was keen on joining Arsenal. 😕
Good night Gooners, everywhere. Stay safe. 😷
Could be an interesting end to the week, with the prospect of the players taking a reduction in wages and Kroenke putting some dough into the club…
Credit to all concerned if it pans out the way we hope, if…?
Night all, oh, it seems that UEFA are talking in terms of a CL final in August, almost like the Charity Shield…
New post up now