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.
Written by Tony Merakli for Gunnersphere.com. Anyway that’s mine and Rix’s view on the matter, what’s yours?
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yup the board must do something…instead of them taking million without doing something in return
players wages are destroying football and when you have teams such as Chelsea,Real madrid,M.city and maybe M.utd you will always have problem with wages.Is city and real madrid can get close to barca i doubt it.Al most all Arsenal and Barca players are from youth level.Arsene needs to buy at least 3 v.good players if they cannoy afford world class.
Gone are the “Tony Adams” era. Greed and glory surpasses everyhing including their self esteem. Spanish and French players at Arsenal are the most unfaithful.
We do not have to worry about greedy players leaving but need to worry that one day when Wenger leave Arsenal and youth certainly not with him ie.62 years old.
Well i think we need a balance in our team. Along with young players we also need some experienced players. I bet if we had defenders like Kolo Toure or Ferdinand(Man Utd) along with Koscielny then he would have developed alot.
Young players need some expereinced players alongside with them, so they can develop. I think Wenger should have atleast 2 or 3 worldclass experienced players.
(Like a car needs both accelerator and a brake to work right, right now Arsenal’s car has only accelerator (young Players), there are no brakes. Thats how imbalance we have in our team)