Former Arsenal midfielder Graham Rix fears the Gunners will continue to lose their best players, unless they reshape their strict wage structure – is he right?
Following the departures of Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri to Manchester City, and Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona last week, Rix, who made over 350 appearances for the Gunners, fears more players could follow suit if the north London club continue to refuse paying top wages like their rivals do.
The ex-Gunner told talkSPORT’s Keys and Gray:
‘When you see the financial difficulties some people are having and when you see Arsenal’s fantastic stadium and training ground and the flood of young talent they have got at the club coming through, it’s in a really stable situation Arsenal.’
‘But the problem they are having now is the players they are producing are not going to be paid enough to remain at Arsenal. Fabregas left for different reasons but certainly Clichy and Nasri were for financial reasons and that would be worrying.’
‘Despite all the great players you are going to produce, when they are at their peak they are going to leave and play for another top club.’
Rix makes some valid points and certainly ones which are accurate in my opinion.
But should the club break their tight wage structure, which has kept our club afloat for many years, in order for some of our top players to pocket even more cash? I don’t think so, not in my estimation anyway – they get paid enough as it is already. However, if Arsenal do indeed want to keep their top players, then they will need to rethink their wage structure, that’s for sure.
Anyway that’s mine and Rix’s view on the matter, what’s yours?
the wage structure should remain as they are,remember one player,or two deosnt make a team ,and there will be friction amongst players with certain players getting more than others
True but could u pls tell wenger to get Scott parker:)
I think their top wage should be at least 150 per week. The tax table has changed in England, and now takes more of their wages. At the sametime, Nasri should have been wrapped up before the start of last year, as it was the year he came good finally for the club. Same with Clichy, and it does seem that the club is not as ambitious as the other top three clubs are.On the other hand giving Nasri the kind of money that City has is a gamble, because he like Ade is not a person that adds to locker room harmony. Blanc left him out of his last squad as well. Now we are at the end of the transfer window with a win last night in Italy. Still no one will be signed and the squad is not full enought to challenge through the EPL, Udinese wa a weaker squad then 90% of the EPL. In order to meet the wage demands of the top signings , those that go above 20ml, you simply have to pay more, right now Arsenal cannot compete, and should not have to against the big boys, but as Mata shows for a player like him, the gunners do not have the same type of ambition, thus becoming a selling club.
actually i think you find that every club eventually losers top players,even man utd lost ronaldo,tevez wants out at city.
it very easy for forgotten players to come out saying stupid things like what rixssaid.
but maybe if the player is worth 120 to 150,000 then i’m sure arsenal will pay it.
it said we offered mata 125,000 a week but obilously he wanted more plus over time.
The claim is as innocent as they get. Every club sells in due time. Arsenal released two players aged 24 and one aged 26 this year, but I’d rather expect them selling “stars” at 26+, like they did before. But when you run a successful academy, you inevitably sell many 20-year-olds who can no longer play in your youth squad and don’t fit in your 1st squad.
I am afraid if the wage structure does not change, then Arsenal will continue to lose players. I don’t agree that one or two players don’t make a big difference. If we had Fabregas and Nasri against Liverpool and against Manchester United on Sunday, it would have made a difference. We have been selling players at 30 plus and now its 24. Arsenal has never sold players at that age before except Matthew Flamini, Ashley Cole and Alexander Hleb who went because of more money. If we don’t see it, we will keep loosing them. Look back and imagine if we still had Flammini, Cole and Hleb plus Fabregas and Nasri. We would have been having quite a formidable team now just with a few additions.