Why Arsenal simply have to abandon their traditional wage structure this summer

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Arsene Wenger’s love for Arsenal can never be questioned.

However, the Frenchman’s shrewd business acumen has led to a very frustrating period for Gunners fans, who have to pay more than any other supporters in the world to watch their club in action.

Arsenal have been constantly left behind in the transfer market in recent years, and the club’s existing wage structure has caused all kinds of problems.

The doubt over the futures of Arsene Wenger, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil has raised questions regarding the club’s ability to keep up with the other elite outfits in England. If the ancient wage cap had been scrapped at the start of this past season, there is a good chance that Sanchez and Özil would have penned new deals a long time ago.

However, it is not all bad news for Gunners fans. Wenger has made it clear that Özil and Sanchez will be staying this season – as he told beIN Sports (in quotes reported by both ESPN and FourFourTwo) this week – unless players of the same quality become available during the summer transfer window.

The French manager is willing to risk his two prize players running down their contracts next year as he looks to make a title surge this season. With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also seemingly ready to sign a new deal, as reported by the Telegraph, things look positive.

Wenger believes Özil and Sanchez could sign new deals, but knows that the current wage cap will have to go if he is to keep them. It also seems like Wenger is overhauling some of the “dead weight” within the squad.

Yaya Sanogo is leaving the club after four years, and it also seems as if several others (as ESPN allude to) will be departing the Emirates in the summer.

It would be unsurprising if there were more exits to come, with a number of players linked, and Sead Kolašinac recently signing a five-year deal after moving from Schalke on a free transfer.

If Arsene Wenger is to stick with his new 3-4-3 formation, which saw the Gunners shock the world with a surprise FA Cup final victory over Premier League champions Chelsea, then it is likely that Callum Chambers will remain at the club for added depth at the back.

Kolašinac has supposedly been given a £150,000 a week contract, according to the Daily Star, making it very believable that Alexis Sanchez has been offered £280,000 a week to sign a new deal, as the Telegraph report.

With the wage cap gone, not only does it mean that it will be much easier for Wenger to keep his current players, it also means that joining the Gunners will be much more appetising, despite the lack of Champions League football this season.

It might well be that the lack of Champions League football means Arsenal have no choice but to break their current financial structure in order to keep their best players. Particularly with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City paying their key players in excess of £200,000.

It is expected that Liverpool are also likely to break their wage cap this summer as they look to strengthen their squad ready for Champions League football. The only two clubs who have not made it entirely clear if they will be doing the same are the two North London giants, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

This summer looks to be a huge one in the Premier League, but no club needs a big summer more than the Gunners after their disappointing campaign last time out. The only way to convince Alexis Sanchez to stay beyond next season may well be to go on to at least properly challenge for the league title. Winning it would make it a sure thing.

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