Arteta says Arsenal job cuts aimed at creating success

Getty Images shows Mikel Arteta, who became Arsenal manager in December 2019. By Timothy Abraham, BBC Sport journalist. Published 16 October 2026.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he was told the club’s decision to cut 60 jobs was made to “achieve the success we want to create”. Chief executive Richard Garlick informed staff this week that the workforce would be reduced across several departments. The cuts are set to affect up to seven percent of Arsenal’s 871 permanent staff, but will not touch coaching or performance staff in the men’s or women’s setups and will come from off‑the‑field roles. Jobs in the Arsenal Foundation, Arsenal in the Community and within the security staff will also remain unchanged.

A review carried out by an external company into the workforce was already under way before the club won the Premier League. The decision to make the redundancies comes a week after Arteta was handed a new four‑year contract, having guided Arsenal to their first Premier League title since 2004 last season. The 44‑year‑old’s new deal includes an increase on his previous salary of £10 million a year, plus an additional £5 million in bonuses.

Asked about the cuts at a news conference before Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest, Arteta initially said “this question is not for me” before offering a brief response. “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,” said the Spaniard. “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.”

Arsenal announced in February that they had recorded record revenues of £691 million for the 2024‑25 financial year, although they still made an overall loss of £1.4 million. The accounts also showed that operating costs rose to £200.8 million, compared with £147.9 million in the previous financial year. Figure caption: Arteta on Arsenal job cuts. Related topics: Arsenal, Football, Premier League. More on this story: Saka responds to Arteta’s challenge with ‘huge impact’ – published three days ago. Latest Arsenal news, analysis and fan views.