Arsenal's 60 redundancies sour staff morale just days after Arteta's £20m pay rise

Arsenal have told approximately 60 members of staff they are at risk of redundancy as part of a club-wide restructure, with the announcement landing just days after head coach Mikel Arteta was handed a new contract worth £20 million per year — the richest managerial deal in Premier League history.

Morale inside the club has been described as ‘low’ in the wake of the news, a stark contrast to the mood five months ago when Arsenal were celebrating their first Premier League title in over two decades. Staff in the catering and travel departments are among those affected by the process.

The cuts do not extend to the men’s or women’s first-team performance and coaching staff, nor to employees in the academy, Arsenal Women, Arsenal in the Community, the Arsenal Foundation, or site security. The club has indicated that some of the 60 individuals at risk may be offered alternative roles elsewhere within the organisation as part of the restructure, which is designed to address seven consecutive years of financial losses.

When asked about the redundancies, Arteta acknowledged being briefed on the process but distanced himself from the decision. “It was explained to me about the exercise, and the analysis that has been done across the club, and with the intention always to evolve to improve,” he said. “Some decisions have to be taken, to put people in the right roles, and keep investing to achieve what we want to achieve and the success that we want to create. Obviously, I am not the right person to answer that question, that’s for sure, and hopefully everybody will respect that.”

The timing has drawn scrutiny given Arteta’s repeated public emphasis on Arsenal being a ‘family’ club. The juxtaposition of a landmark managerial pay rise alongside widespread job cuts has sharpened the sense of unease among those affected.

On the pitch, Arsenal’s attention turns to a Champions League last-16 tie away to Bayern Munich. The club reached last season’s final before losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain, and Arteta made clear the defeat still weighs heavily on him. “I’ve tried, but I haven’t managed,” he admitted. “That’s the reality. So I tried for many weeks during the summer, but even today, when I see the ball, when I hear the music, when I see the scenes, I want it so badly. We know that because of a penalty, we are not the champions of Europe.”