Mikel Arteta personally intervened to get Arsenal’s players to accept pay cuts as the Gunners seek to ease the financial burden of the coronavirus crisis.
The north London club’s hierarchy has been locked in talks with the playing squad over possible wage reductions after the PFA recommended against a Premier League-wide 30 per cent pay cut for players.
The Arsenal squad earlier this week rejected a proposed 12.5 per cent cut with Arsenal chiefs hoping the players would accept the reduction for the 12 months from April 2020 to March 2021.
But, according toThe Athletic, head coach Arteta stepped in to convince his squad to accept wage reductions amid theongoing crisis.
The Spaniard, who used to play for the Gunners, allegedly held a conference call with his players on Wednesday night which convinced those who were against the proposal to accept it.
There is now increasing optimism that a deal will be agreed which will allowArsenalto drastically reduce their current £230million wage bill.
The majority of Arsenal’s squad were said to have wanted a pay deferral rather than a cut, as the former means they would have been rebated their lost wages in full at a later date.
However, the club’s hierarchy prefers a pay cut – and it may not even be imposed if the Premier League resumes over the coming weeks.
It is expected there will be no pay cut if the season returns and Arsenal qualify for the Champions League while booking their place in the Europa League would see the wage reduction drop from 12.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.
