So Arsenal's figures in the recently released Guardian report for all Premier League clubs interest me for a number of reasons:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/22/premier-league-finances-club-guide-2017-18-accounts-manchester-united-city
The following are my observations:
1) Obviously, our absence from the CL continues to hit us really badly, and I expect us to lag even further behind in the next reports this time next year. In the era of the "Sky 4", the top 4 at the time basically became a cartel, piggy-backing off of CL participation and revenue to keep themselves ahead of all other PL clubs in a self-perpetuating cycle. This is why I consider criticism of City's rise to be ridiculous. Regardless of how unfair it is they can blow our spending out of the water, it was unfair in the first place that a club like City had to splurge so much to compete at the top. There is no "fairness" in football, so City's critics can fack right off.
2) We continue to underperform in commercial revenue compared to the other top 6 clubs. Man U generated 276 million in commercial revenue. City generated £232m. Chelsea generated £170m. Liverpool generated £154m (and they have the biggest capacity for growth with very lucrative sponsorship deals coming up). We generated only £133m in commercial and retail revenue. Spurs, who you'd expect to be far behind us with a considerably smaller domestic and global fanbase are generating up to £109m: which you'd expect to significantly increase as they move to a new stadium and continue to play CL football. Why can't we get it right in this area of our operations?
3) Our wage bill might be the most disgraceful monument to the waste and incompetence of Gazidis and Wenger. This squad spends £240m in wages. THIS squad? Sure, it's currently the 5th largest wage bill in the league. City, Man U and Chelsea were always ahead of us, but once Liverpool got themselves in that elite group, they've been able to significantly expand their wage bill to reward top performers. But what puts our waste in focus is that Spurs spend nearly £100m LESS in wages than we do. Only Man U's wage bill is as disgraceful as ours, but at least they have seemingly limitless money to burn on whoever adn whatever they want, whenever they want, while we don't. We could be spending a 3rd successive season of 'Ropey league footy next season, and we're paying £240m a year to a team of Mustafis, Elnenys, Xhakas, Iwobis and Mkhitaryans. Our wage bill is what has put us in so much financial trouble. We're spending 60% of our turnover on wages, when Spurs spend 39%. It gives us little flexibility in the transfer market. The wages don't seem to be incentivized on CL participation because it has continued to expand even as we dropped out of the CL. Worst of all, it makes it difficult for us to shift players or get any decent money for players we move on.
With Kroenke unwilling to put any of his own money into the club (even if he was, I think it would violate certain FFP provisions), dark days ahead. Failure to win the 'Ropey league and qualify for the CL would be an absolute gut punch to us and our ambitions in the near future.
Premier League Finances
posted on 25/5/19
comment by BO$$™ (U6401)
posted 40 minutes ago
Hopefully with the likes of Ramsey, Cech, Welbeck, Jenkinson and with abit of luck either Micky or Ozil our wage bill will a little more realistic.
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I'm triggered to the point of rage everytime I remember Ozil earns $350k a week. Seriously, fack Wenger and Gazidis!
posted on 25/5/19
Good article.
Wrt Arsenal, just shows what a sheitshow job Gazidis did during his tenure that we're struggling on and off the pitch. The hope is with the new shake up within the club, we can now see a gradual rise in revenue, both from commercial and prize money.
As far as wages are concerned, will take some time to clear up the dross accumulated in our squad. Our wage bill is an embarrassment. Still having the likes of Ozil, Mkhi, Xhaka, Mustafi, Kolasinac block up our wage bill yet provide minimal on field achievement is an embarrassment.
posted on 25/5/19
comment by Ace (U18814)
posted 41 minutes ago
Good article.
Shame these figures are a year behind, would be very interesting to see the current picture. Arsenal have been overpaying dross for years now, but the lack of CL revenue is what is causing it to be problematic. I said on a few other posts how I really don’t want you to win the EL as another year without CL would be a huge blow to the club. From our perspective seeing a top 6 rival be weakened year on year is great (provided we keep building) as it reduces the competition. The fact that it’s Arsenal makes it even sweeter. Think you’ll win the EL though, much more incentive for your players than Chelsea’s and Sarri seems to be on his way out so won’t care as much.
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It's a slow slide into mediocrity really. Every year we are out of the CL, we get weaker, and every year, Spurs are in it, they get stronger as an institution.
We have a good chance in the EL, but there's no reason to believe Chelsea will give any less than us to win it. Sarri is getting the sack, but I'd imagine he is desperate to leave on a high and win his first career trophy. The Chelsea players would see it as redemptive for a poor season. Also believe they have more technical quality around the pitch than we do, and defend better than we do. I'd make them slight favorites.
posted on 25/5/19
comment by Serial WUManiser™© - #YNWA #Bercow4PM (U1410)
posted 4 minutes ago
Good article.
Wrt Arsenal, just shows what a sheitshow job Gazidis did during his tenure that we're struggling on and off the pitch. The hope is with the new shake up within the club, we can now see a gradual rise in revenue, both from commercial and prize money.
As far as wages are concerned, will take some time to clear up the dross accumulated in our squad. Our wage bill is an embarrassment. Still having the likes of Ozil, Mkhi, Xhaka, Mustafi, Kolasinac block up our wage bill yet provide minimal on field achievement is an embarrassment.
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He's one of the highest paid directors in the league, but was utterly useless by any measure of his contributions on and off the pitch. I guess we should thank him at least for being the main boardroom figure to force Wenger to step down.
posted on 25/5/19
Not only that though, you've got to look at some outgoings, like Sanchez for example. Star player at Arsenal, earning big money at United because his transfer saga will have brought in that much revenue and media attention that United can afford to pay his wages and then some. Arsenal lost all of that. People that bring revenue to the club in shirt sales for example with Sanchez on the back will have gone because he's not an Arsenal player anymore and you've only got to look at social media nowadays to recognise how big a player is. Sanchez has nearly 10 million Instagram followers, you look at his replacement Mkhitiryan who has nearly 3 million. A third less. Unfortunately with money and social media taking over, you can see players like Sanchez attract worldwide attention. From fans, media and of course, revenue. Mkhirityan doesn't attract anywhere near the same level of attention and that's one of the reasons why United are as financially rich as they are really.
posted on 25/5/19
Arsenal has more than £200 million sitting in the bank and not being invested. Trouble is, the rate of inflation on the football market has skyrocketed and is at least 40% pa for quality players. The more we keep this reserve untouched the faster it loses value on the football market. We should invest the money, get back into the CL, and we are on our way up again.
posted on 25/5/19
comment by Ace (U18814)
posted 2 hours, 2 minutes ago
Good article.
Shame these figures are a year behind, would be very interesting to see the current picture. Arsenal have been overpaying dross for years now, but the lack of CL revenue is what is causing it to be problematic. I said on a few other posts how I really don’t want you to win the EL as another year without CL would be a huge blow to the club. From our perspective seeing a top 6 rival be weakened year on year is great (provided we keep building) as it reduces the competition. The fact that it’s Arsenal makes it even sweeter. Think you’ll win the EL though, much more incentive for your players than Chelsea’s and Sarri seems to be on his way out so won’t care as much.
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You don't want us winning it yet u want the C havvs winning it? Huh.
posted on 25/5/19
Interesting that Liverpool’s wage bill is bigger than Chrlsea and City
posted on 26/5/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 26/5/19
comment by Ace (U18814)
posted 32 seconds ago
comment by 💉Dexter Morgan🔪 (U22016)
posted 4 hours, 19 minutes ago
comment by Ace (U18814)
posted 2 hours, 2 minutes ago
Good article.
Shame these figures are a year behind, would be very interesting to see the current picture. Arsenal have been overpaying dross for years now, but the lack of CL revenue is what is causing it to be problematic. I said on a few other posts how I really don’t want you to win the EL as another year without CL would be a huge blow to the club. From our perspective seeing a top 6 rival be weakened year on year is great (provided we keep building) as it reduces the competition. The fact that it’s Arsenal makes it even sweeter. Think you’ll win the EL though, much more incentive for your players than Chelsea’s and Sarri seems to be on his way out so won’t care as much.
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You don't want us winning it yet u want the C havvs winning it? Huh.
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Well yeah, I’m a Tottenham fan. I don’t want arsenal to win anything ever. I don’t want Chelsea to either but I’m a situation where one of you has to then I choose them. Also, they already have CL football next season so it doesn’t matter if they win it, it hurts arsenal more to lose this match plus, it’s arsenal.
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But u have to admit we've won things the right way not buying Trophys like them lot,and it's the same with Spurs u are where u are by doing things the right way playing good football with out spending a billion,sorry but if it was between u and them getting 4th I'd hope it would be you lot, I'm not going to be bitter about it and feel sorry for myself I'd rather the honest team do better than a team who throws hundreds of millions at it.