Premier League giants Arsenal have this evening confirmed that leading members at the club have agreed to a pay-cut, to ease the financial difficulties stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Coronavirus hits football

The subject of wage-cuts has been headline news in the world of football for several weeks now.

As clubs attempt to cut costs amid the unprecedented situation brought forth by the COVID-19 crisis, staff members at every level have been affected to at least some degree.

In Europe, for example, a host of heavyweight clubs have announced major wage-cuts for their respective first-team squads.

Players at the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid have all given up considerable percentages of their pay packets, to ensure the financial well-being of their respective outfits moving forward.

In Italy, meanwhile, AS Roma yesterday followed the lead of Serie A champions Juventus in agreeing to completely forgo wage packets for the next 4 months:

The #ASRoma players wrote to CEO Guido Fienga to volunteer a financial solution that will see them forgo their salary for four months to help the club during the #COVID19 crisis. pic.twitter.com/94tWFpAbaX — AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) April 19, 2020

Arsenal step up

Until today, however, no Premier League outfit had managed to implement such cost-cutting measures.

Newcastle United and Norwich City have announced that non-playing staff at the club have been placed on furlough, with Liverpool and Tottenham having been forced to backtrack on similar decisions following a heavy public backlash.

The first-team squads at both Southampton and West Ham, meanwhile, have seen their wages affected, albeit by means of a deferral, rather than an actual wage-cut.

#SaintsFC can detail measures it is taking as part of the club’s ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic: https://t.co/1pMnaqFQMS — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 9, 2020

As outlined above, though, following weeks of negotiations, the first Premier League club to have found an agreement with their senior players over pay-cuts has this evening been confirmed.

The outfit in question are Arsenal.

On the back of widespread reports last week that Mikel Arteta’s squad had rejected the club’s latest proposal to slash wages, common ground has finally been found.

As such, in an announcement across the Gunners’ social media platforms a short time ago, Arsenal confirmed that a 12.5% reduction in wages for all first-team players and coaching staff will come into effect imminently:

‘We are pleased to announce that we have reached a voluntary agreement with our first-team players, head coach and core coaching staff to help support the club at this critical time.’

‘Reductions of total annual earnings by 12.5 per cent will come into effect this month, with the contractual paperwork being completed in the coming days.’

The statement continues:

‘If we meet specific targets in the seasons ahead, primarily linked to success on the pitch, the club will repay agreed amounts. We will be able to make those repayments as hitting these targets, which the players can directly influence, will mean our financial position will be stronger.’

We are pleased to announce that we have reached a voluntary agreement with our first-team players, head coach and core coaching staff to help support the club at this critical time. — Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 20, 2020

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