Arteta says Arsenal explained 60 job cuts as part of drive for success

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have explained their decision to cut 60 jobs to him as part of an effort to improve the club and support its ambitions for success. According to BBC Sport's reporting on October 16, chief executive Richard Garlick informed employees this week that the reductions would involve several departments across the club.

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The planned cuts concern off-field positions and represent up to seven per cent of Arsenal's 871 permanent employees. Coaching and performance staff working with the men's and women's teams will not be affected. BBC Sport also reported that security staff, the Arsenal Foundation and Arsenal in the Community are outside the scope of the reductions, identifying several areas that will retain their staff.

Arteta addressed the subject at a news conference ahead of Sunday's visit to Nottingham Forest. He initially indicated that questions about the redundancies should be directed elsewhere, before explaining the account he had received. The manager said the review had been presented to him as a way of improving the organisation, assigning people to appropriate roles and maintaining investment in pursuit of the club's objectives.

He nevertheless stressed that he was not the appropriate person to answer questions about the decision. His comments described the explanation given to him rather than setting out the details of the redundancy process. The workforce assessment was undertaken by an external company and had already begun before Arsenal won the Premier League, according to the BBC report.

The announcement comes a week after Arteta received a new four-year contract following Arsenal's first Premier League title since 2004. BBC Sport reported that the agreement raised his pay from a previous annual salary of £10 million, with an additional £5 million in bonuses. The contract renewal and the staff reductions therefore come in close succession after the club's championship-winning season.

Arsenal's latest reported financial figures provide further background to the workforce changes. In February, the club announced record revenue of £691 million for the 2024-25 financial year, but an overall loss of £1.4 million. The same accounts showed operating costs of £200.8 million, compared with £147.9 million in the preceding year, according to BBC Sport.