Arsenal Relegation Plan Blurs Lines of Faith

Arsenal are preparing for relegation from the Premier League.

Just over a third of the way through the 2020/21 Premier League season, Arsenal find themselves sucked into a conversation that started out in jest but quickly transformed into a serious debate.

Could Arsenal really be relegated?

Going off form alone, one win in ten top-flight matches strongly suggests so. Throwing in the level of performances being churned out, the case gets stronger. Tying that all together with the toxicity and division within the squad and you may as well not bother hiring a defence attorney.

It appears that doubt has crept its way into north London, with steps being taken to ensure the vast majority of the playing squad would face 25% pay-cuts on their salaries if the club’s worst fears were realised. £37.5m would be taken off their total annual wage bill.

Mesut Ozil‘s wages needn’t be considered due to his contract expiring in the summer, but other key squad members, such as the club captain, also sit on healthy £350k-per-week wages that huddle together with others to account for an £150m-per-year outlay on salaries.

This news has come to light within days of Edu Gaspar and Vinai Venkatesham offering their public backing of Mikel Arteta to stop the rot and avert the slide. Yet here we are with Arsenal in a position of weakness unlike any period in the club’s history 134-history.

Taking such measures is nothing out of the ordinary: clubs pre-empt relegation in divisions across the continent, with Premier League newcomers following suit. Even sides in the top-flight who’ve maintained their status have to act in accordance with football’s ever-changing landscape and unpredictability.

Seeing Arsenal do so, however, asks questions of those who’re already being bombarded with demands they’re yet to seek the answers for.