Arteta explains Arsenal’s rationale for cutting 60 off-field jobs

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal presented their decision to cut 60 jobs as part of a wider effort to improve the club and support its ambitions for success. BBC Sport reported that chief executive Richard Garlick informed employees this week about plans to reduce staffing across several departments, with the redundancies focused on roles away from the pitch.

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The proposed reductions represent up to seven per cent of Arsenal’s 871 permanent employees. Coaching and performance staff working with both the men’s and women’s teams will not be affected. The BBC also reported that security employees and jobs in the Arsenal Foundation and Arsenal in the Community are outside the scope of the cuts.

Arteta was asked about the decision at a news conference ahead of Sunday’s visit to Nottingham Forest. He initially indicated that the subject should be addressed by someone else, then outlined what he had been told. He said the club had explained an organisation-wide assessment intended to improve its operations, place employees in appropriate roles and allow continued investment.

The manager nevertheless stressed that he was not the person best placed to answer questions about the redundancies. According to the BBC, an external company’s review of Arsenal’s workforce was already under way before the team won the Premier League. The review therefore began before the title success that ended the club’s wait for a league championship stretching back to 2004.

The staffing decision comes a week after Arteta signed a new four-year contract following last season’s title win. The BBC reported that the 44-year-old’s agreement raised his pay from a previous annual salary of £10m, with a further £5m in bonuses. His renewal and the planned reductions concern different parts of the club’s workforce.

Arsenal’s latest reported financial figures provide the backdrop to the restructuring. Accounts announced in February showed record revenue of £691m for the 2024-25 financial year, but an overall loss of £1.4m. Operating costs reached £200.8m, up from £147.9m a year earlier, meaning the record income did not translate into an overall profit.