Arsenal will reduce its workforce by up to 60 jobs as part of a major restructuring announced this week. The cuts represent around seven per cent of the club's 871 permanent staff, though coaching, performance, community and security roles will not be affected.
Chief executive Richard Garlick informed staff of the decision, which follows an external workforce review conducted before the club won the Premier League title last season. Manager Mikel Arteta, who signed a new four-year contract just a week before the announcement, initially deferred questions on the matter. He later explained the rationale behind the move.
Arteta said the analysis and decisions were taken with the intention to evolve and improve. He stated some choices had to be made to put people in the right roles and to keep investing to achieve the success the club wants to create. The manager acknowledged he was not the right person to answer detailed questions but respected the process.
Financial pressures prompt cuts
The job losses come against a complex financial backdrop. For the 2024-25 financial year, Arsenal recorded record revenues of £691m. However, the club also posted an overall loss of £1.4m. A significant factor was a sharp rise in operating costs, which increased to £200.8m from £147.9m the previous year. This financial pressure, despite the on-field triumph of winning a first league title since 2004, underpins the need for internal restructuring.
Arteta addresses team photo gaffe
The workforce news emerged during a press conference where Arteta also addressed the omission of defender William Saliba from the club's official team photograph. The 25-year-old, who has made 184 appearances for Arsenal, missed the shoot due to a medical appointment as he continues his recovery from a back injury. Arteta confirmed the photo session had been attempted three times and cancelled last minute for various reasons. He said Saliba was completely fine about the situation and taking banter from teammates, and the club plans to retake the photo with the full squad included. The manager faced technical issues with his microphone during the briefing, having to repeat a statistic that 20 of Arsenal's 21 goals this season had come from open play.
Arsenal's next match is a Premier League fixture away to Nottingham Forest, to be broadcast live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
Read the full report at bbc.co.uk
