Mikel Arteta would rather not be the one explaining it. Asked on Friday about Arsenal's plan to cut 60 jobs, the manager started with "this question is not for me" before giving a short answer. He said he was told the decision was taken to "achieve the success we want to create".
What Arsenal Are Cutting
Chief executive Richard Garlick told staff this week that the workforce would be reduced across a number of departments. The cuts could affect up to seven per cent of Arsenal's 871 permanent employees. They will not touch coaching or performance staff in the men's or women's teams, and roles at the Arsenal Foundation, Arsenal in the Community and the security team are also safe. The jobs will come from off-the-field roles.
An external company was carrying out a review of the workforce before Arsenal won the Premier League, so the process is not new. The announcement still lands awkwardly, coming a week after the club gave Arteta a new four-year contract.
Arteta's Position
That deal, struck after he guided Arsenal to their first league title since 2004, increased his previous salary of £10m a year and added £5m in bonuses. At his news conference before Sunday's trip to Nottingham Forest, Arteta said it was explained to him that the exercise involved analysis across the club, with the aim of evolving and improving.
"Some decisions have to be taken to put people in the right roles, and keep investing," he said, adding that he was "obviously not the right person to answer that question" and hoped everybody would respect that.
The Finances Behind It
In February Arsenal reported record revenues of £691m for 2024-25, though they still made an overall loss of £1.4m. Operating costs rose to £200.8m from £147.9m the year before. Those are the numbers on the table as the club restructures, even after a title-winning season.
For Arteta, the focus returns to the pitch on Sunday. The harder conversation, about how a club at the top of English football manages growth and cost, will continue off it.
Club context: Arsenal won the Premier League last season, their first title since 2004. Arteta was appointed in December 2019 and is 44. The club will face Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Figures from Arsenal's 2024-25 accounts as reported by BBC Sport.
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