Arsenal to cut 60 jobs as Mikel Arteta reveals club's success plan
Arsenal will cut up to 60 jobs across off-field departments after chief executive Richard Garlick informed staff this week, with Mikel Arteta told the decision was made to "achieve the success we want to create" just a week after signing a new four-year contract.
- Job cuts: Up to 60 redundancies across multiple departments
- Workforce affected: Up to seven per cent of Arsenal's 871 permanent staff
- Protected roles: Coaching and performance staff in both men's and women's setups, plus Arsenal Foundation, Arsenal in the Community and security staff
- Timing: Comes a week after Arteta signed a new four-year deal worth £10m per year plus £5m in bonuses
- Financial context: Record revenues of £691m for 2024-25, but an overall loss of £1.4m
What was said
"It was explained to me about the exercise, and the analysis that has been done across the club, and with the intention always to evolve, to improve."
"Some decisions have to be taken to put people in the right roles, and keep investing, to achieve what we want to achieve, the success that we want to create. That has been explained."
"Obviously, I am not the right person to answer that question. That's for sure. And hopefully everybody will respect that."
Arteta initially tried to sidestep the question at his pre-Nottingham Forest news conference, saying "this question is not for me" before offering the brief explanation above. The Spaniard was clearly uncomfortable discussing redundancies that will affect around 60 colleagues, but he did confirm that the club's hierarchy had briefed him on the reasoning.
The key phrase from Arteta is "keep investing". Arsenal are cutting costs off the pitch while continuing to spend on it. The men's first team just won the Premier League for the first time since 2004, and the manager's new contract includes a rise from £10m a year to an increase on that figure, plus £5m in bonuses. The message is clear: the club wants to protect the product on the grass.
The numbers
- 60: up to this many jobs will be cut
- 871: Arsenal's total permanent staff
- 7%: maximum percentage of the workforce affected
- £691m: record revenues for the 2024-25 financial year
- £1.4m: overall loss despite record revenue
- £200.8m: operating costs, up from £147.9m the previous year
- £10m: Arteta's previous annual salary, which his new deal improves upon
- £5m: additional bonuses in the new contract
Why Arsenal are cutting jobs despite record revenue
The headline figure of £691m revenue looks spectacular, but the £200.8m operating costs tell a different story. That is a £53m jump from the previous year. Arsenal are investing heavily in players, wages and infrastructure to stay at the top, and the external review of the workforce was already underway before the title was won. This is not a panic measure after a bad season — it is a deliberate restructuring.
Mikel Arteta is not the decision-maker here. He made that clear. The job cuts come from the executive level, led by Richard Garlick. Yet he is the face of the club, and he will be asked about it again. His answer will be repeated: the analysis is about putting people in the right roles and evolving. The coaching and performance staff in both the men's and women's teams are untouched, as are the Arsenal Foundation, Arsenal in the Community, and security staff.
The timing is awkward. A week after Arteta signed a lucrative new deal, 60 people are losing their jobs. Arsenal will argue the two are unrelated — the review predates the title — but the optics are difficult. What matters for the team is whether this affects the football operation. The answer, according to the source, is no: not a single coaching or performance role in either the men's or women's setup will be cut.
Talking points
- Should Arsenal be making 60 redundancies a week after handing their manager a pay rise? The club will say the review predates the title, but fans will question the morality.
- Record revenues of £691m but a £1.4m loss shows how tight the margins are at the top. Arsenal are cutting costs off the pitch while spending big on it — is that sustainable?
- Arteta's "not for me" response was honest but may not satisfy staff who are losing their jobs. The manager is the public face of the club, whether he likes it or not.
- With coaching and performance staff protected, the cuts should not affect results on the pitch. But can Arsenal keep their edge if backroom support roles are reduced?
What happens next
Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, where Arteta will face further questions about the redundancies. The club will continue to restructure off the field over the coming weeks, with the external review now complete. The next set of financial results will be scrutinised to see if the cuts have the desired effect on the bottom line.
Frequently asked questions
How many jobs are Arsenal cutting?
Up to 60 jobs, affecting up to seven per cent of Arsenal's 871 permanent staff. The cuts will come from off-the-field roles across a number of departments.
Will Arsenal's coaching staff be affected by the job cuts?
No. Neither coaching nor performance staff in the men's or women's setups will be affected. Jobs in the Arsenal Foundation, Arsenal in the Community and security staff will also be unaffected.
What did Mikel Arteta say about the Arsenal job cuts?
Arteta said it was explained to him that the analysis was done with the intention to evolve and improve, and that decisions have to be taken to put people in the right roles and keep investing to achieve success. He added that he is not the right person to answer the question.
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