Arteta backs Arsenal's cost-cutting round despite recent contract extension

Arsenal is set to carry out a cost‑cutting round that puts about sixty jobs at risk. Manager Mikel Arteta, who recently extended his contract until 2030, was asked about this at a press conference and said he supports the decision. Sportingly, Arsenal are doing excellently, having won the Premier League last season for the first time in 22 years and again playing a significant role in the Champions League.

Financial context of the cost‑cuttings

In the 2024/25 season Arsenal recorded a record turnover of around €800 million, but posted a loss of about €1.6 million – a strong improvement compared with the loss of €20 million a year earlier. Operating costs rose to roughly €233 million, versus about €171 million the year before. The club states that salary savings are necessary to ensure future resilience.

Arteta’s own contract was previously characterised by a base salary of £10 million per year, supplemented by £5 million in bonuses. Although the exact details of his new contract are not public, it is estimated that his salary is now much closer to that of Diego Simeone of Atlético Madrid, who is said to earn £25 million per year.

Arsenal cuts 60 jobs while Arteta earns 24 million euros a year

Impact on staff and internal reaction

The cost‑cuttings mainly target roles outside the sporting side, such as the catering and travel department; other departments are not named. The affected employees have already been informed and the club is trying to limit redundancies as much as possible and, where feasible, redeploy staff internally.

According to English media the decision is not yet final, but the club has already carried out an analysis with the intention to evolve and improve. Arteta said: “I have been explained what this process entails and what analysis has been carried out within the club, always with the intention to evolve and improve.”

He added that certain decisions need to be made to place people in the right positions and to continue investing in success. After these statements Arteta was not allowed to answer any further questions about the cost‑cutting round.