Arsenal announced that they’ve gone into consultation with staff over 55 redundancies at the club due to the covid nightmare that’s gripping businesses around the world. I can’t imagine the decision was easy and I feel dreadful for the people going through the process. This moment in time has been awful for many reasons, but the damage it has done to the jobs market is especially difficult to deal with because the people it affects haven’t done anything wrong. Covid induced redundancies, particularly in entertainment, seem unavoidable. Remember, this is a club that was fretting over electric bills last year.
Without meaning to tack this onto an agenda – this is why the club needs to be responsible with how they dish out the ‘it’s just the way it is’ fees to the hangers-on around player entourages. A successful football team is obviously essential to a successful business, which is why I hope the club is taking the same cost-cutting eye to agents as it is to the loyal servants that are having their lives rocked at the moment.
Speaking of deals, Willian looks close.
I have accepted the reality here and I won’t argue this all summer, but before I depart on the subject, I want to clarify two things.
- I like the player, he would add something to the squad.
- I do not like the concept of a Shadow Technical Director/Directors
I will move on from that because I don’t want to put a grey cloud on the window, it’ll be what it’ll be, and we’ll just have to hope the powers that be are working their magic behind the scenes to ensure the club is being run professionally.
Mark Irwin reckons the deal is going to be worth £130k a week. If that is all in, I can deal with that sort of number. We’re not paying him a premium, though we are giving him what in all likelihood will be a dead year for choosing us over a more lucrative deal in Miami or Barcelona. The player is top quality, fit, and a professional. We have done worse over the last few years.
Part two of our ‘hold your nose’ window could very well be Coutinho, as reported post-cup final. The club clearly sees this as their marquee opportunity, the new, errr, Ozil. Barcelona is desperate to clear the wage bill and save some face. Arsenal is in need of creative players that can move the ball at speed. I have no idea what sort of plan Mikel would have for the Brazilian, but I’d imagine he’d try and reshape his game to maximise his explosive power and unlock the maximum creativity of our forwards.
I don’t know what the deal would look like here. Some are talking of a loan, some are saying it’ll be a swap with Matteo, some are saying we’ll pay a fractional fee much in the way Inter are for Alexis.
We’re in a ‘the jury is out’ moment here. On the one hand, it is impossible to deny that he’s not far better than anything we have in our starting 11. He’s moving into the peak of his powers, having just turned 28 years old. He’s played in the Premier League, under Jurgen Klopp. He had 91 goal contributions in 200 appearances. In his final full season there, he racked up 25 goal contributions in 36 appearances. Things haven’t been great at Barcelona, but let’s be honest, not many of their transfers have worked out as planned. Along with Griezmann and Dembele, it’s been a rough run for the Catalans.
Would I prefer us to be looking at players like Dejan Kulusevski and Saïd Benrahma? Sure. Do I understand why Arteta wants to bring in players with more experience? Yes. Should I be grateful that a player of his quality wants to come to a team that is in its 3rd year of Europa League football? Probably.
I think I’ve been hoisted by my own hype-train a little a bit on the player thing. I’ve spent 3 years saying that Arteta is a world-class coach that can extract more from players, now he’s picking up players like Coutinho and Willian, I can’t really moan, I have to trust the process. If the coach is in, it’d be rude of me not to go along with it… UNLESS IT FAILS THEN I WILL DOUBLE DOWN.
Business-wise, going for older players on big money with no longterm value doesn’t make sense. Especially if you’ve tried it for 3 years and consistently regressed. Dortmund invest in young players, they make the Champions League every year, and by the end of this summer they’ll have received £600m in transfer fees over 5 years (Arsenal, £200m). They’ll start next season with Haaland and Jude Bellingham, two of the most exciting young players in the world. We are told that Arsenal can’t afford to invest in top young talent, yet we’re out here finding £22m for Willian who is 32 in a few weeks. Sorry, I said I wouldn’t do that. But I find it frightening that we might be moving on Cagigao and handing over the scouting reigns to someone that gets his info from his mates.
Question, do you still think the Raul power grab is an agenda thing from me? Doesn’t look good if there aren’t replacements.
Again, this summer could shift up a gear, there are still young players we could be sniping in the background. I like the sound of Gabriel Magalhães from Lille, the right age profile we should be looking at as we look to move on from Luiz and Mustafi this season. I’m hoping that some of the swap deals we’re looking at involved players of a younger profile. I’d also like to think our youth scouts, if there are any left, are working hard to bring in top talent.
So let’s see where we go. I’ll judge the body of work when it’s finished and hope that maybe this summer is one that Raul and Edu feel under pressure to deliver on. Josh and Stan can’t continue to watch the club leak money if progress isn’t being made at every level, Edu’s job is squad shaping, he has to come with the goods this summer, so let’s see if he can be a little more creative than working with his own agent.
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments.
Kroenke is a serial tyrant
Marko,
You are really a flat earther gaslighter in chief. I never said that Arsenal should request a loan.
I just stated that contrary to Marc’s opinion not having a one year plan was not an option for a company like Arsenal. If we don’t, then Vinay should definitely be out of the door.
I used Spurs having asked for a loan as proof that they have a plan. You don’t get such a loan without showing a plan. If Spurs can devise a plan, then surely Arsenal should have one.
Marc,
On Monday.
Did we really just sack Cagigao!?
The BBC Sport website has a piece covering the 55 job losses but no mention of any individuals.
Maybe Pedro could have a word with Doris the Tea Lady and give us the truth.
We are a poverty team. Wonder how this will impact transfers…
teams know we are almost broke…
I guess thats why all the free agents and trades as many speculate.
In a Pandemic, you would think if you had a mutli billion dollar owner, that he would step in and give cash where we need it.
Not this one.
fucking loser
Valentin
No and I’ve checked my junk mail etc. Are you a ST holder or other member?
“The fear in certain quarters is that Arsenal’s executive team are wed to a select set of voices and marginalising those with an alternative view, particularly when it comes to transfers and planning. [@guardian]” If this is from the journalist Amy Lawrence it might be credible I get where Valentin and Words are coming from, all valid points. Frankly i don’t care if a player is 30yrs old or 20yrs as long as the team performs on the pitch and we are back to playing champions league football. Whoever loses the behind the scenes battles doesn’t bother me. They haven’t… Read more »
That was the issue at the time that Arsenal was using the genuine COVID-19 issue to surreptitiously execute their long term plan to lower the wage bill at the expense of the players.
Are you actually this stupid? We’ve been trying to cut down this ridiculous wage bill that got out of hand under Wenger for the last two years and you make it sound like it’s a bad thing. Yeah how dare we a Europa League club try to get our wage bill in check. Incredible
“Do you believe that anybody of quality will want to join us after seeing how we treat somebody of his reputation who has been at Arsenal for decades?“ Without any hesitation, not even for a second. Explain to me the explicit nature of this “treatment”? I think Cagigao is receiving an inflated sentiment by many personally, and it’s opportunistic to derive too many stark views from his replacement – if that’s what’s occurring. He’s been here 23 years I think I read, I’m not entirely sure what folk expect of the club in these times. Do they think tenure is… Read more »
Valentin
I never said we should or wouldn’t have a business plan – I said we wouldn’t show it to Ozil.
I’ve worked for small organisations and large overseas company’s and the senior management to not discuss this kind of thing with staff prior to it happening.
The loan made by the UK Govt to Spurs is not as straightforward as it may seem.
The loan has actually been made To THFC Stadium Ltd.
Arseblog News is saying Cagigao is off.
Marc,
Used to be a club ST, but still a member.
Maybe I am part of the people who would have recontacted without COVID and they want to prepare for some ST loss, be prepared if by October the stadium reopens.
Only the Daily Mail are reporting Cagigao’s sacking.
Hopefully this is a false report.
The reporter from Daily mail then says that Cagigao is part of the redundancies.
CC, the horror is that we’re a club that is under scrutiny for super-agent influence… and we’re doing another round of deep cuts on the scouting department.
If there’s a replacement, I’m sure people would be less worried. This is what happened at Valencia under Lim. They wiped out all the top football people and handed the reigns to Nuno and Mendes.
I just stated that contrary to Marc’s opinion not having a one year plan was not an option for a company like Arsenal.
This is the plan. We restructured our loans and our debt and are laying off workers. That’s the plan. Getting a loan from the UK government had we done that I guarantee you that you would be pissing and moaning right about now
My dad used to work in media his whole career
Magazines mostly but also spent decades on newspapers
Looking back I honestly dunno how he did the newspapers part. He’s a really lovely, normal guy but that whole industry is just so disingenuous and awful it’s mad
Pedro
The Daily mail does mention a replacement.
Hopefully that report is false tho.
Cagigao is a top top scout.
Valentin
Could be – at the moment it’s impossible for the club to offer ST’s – no one knows what they’ll be offering. They might be looking to see who’s interested in one if it becomes available.
One of the big problems at AFC is that we have a billionaire owner but a really mediocre one… he’s no Bezos smart but got rich by marrying a Walmart heiress
He’s put Tim Lewis from Clifford Chance on the Board though so everything will be alright lol
Valentin
I have not received any email from Arsenal regarding my intentions next season.
However, I did contact them myself to enquire when the club was likely to send out season ticket renewals bearing in mind that there are plans to reopen football stadiums in October.
I was told that there would be an update in next couple of months.
Marc, In both France and Germany, Before big restructuring management sit down and talk to employees usually via union to agree on reduced payment or less generous package . In exchange for their agreement managements show their plan and make some promises: no redundancies for X years, no demand of salary pay cut for ordinary employee for Y years. That seems normal to me. If you are asking me to make a financial sacrifice, I want to know that it really means for me and the rest of my colleagues. That idea that players who are extremely well paid but… Read more »
I just have to assume that the moment my incredibly sweet dad arrived at his desk in the morning he’d turn on his computer, click on the headline template and begin ‘IMMIGRANT TERRORIST MUSLIM FROM POLAND BUYS FOOTBALL CLUB WITH HAND OUT MONEY FROM COVID’
My dad must’ve been a monster this whole time!!!
The Arseblog piece is referencing the Daily Mail – there doesn’t seem to be any other sources at the moment.
Come on Pedro – where’s your contacts?
This is what happened at Valencia under Lim. They wiped out all the top football people and handed the reigns to Nuno and Mendes.
Again Valencia did alright out of it. Wolves are currently doing alright as a football club. You need better examples of the pitfalls and dangers of a club having ties with a super agent.
Valentin
Yes but all of that is after they’ve decided that there will be cut backs. It’s a “work with us and we’ll be gentle as we can” not a “let’s have a conversation on whether we need cutbacks”
What’s happening at Arsenal will happen to nearly every company in the UK.
The Covid fear has caused over reaction which has cost the country billions all of which has to be paid back.
Arsenal are bloated because of the easy money from Sky.
Now reality is here.
Say the 55 job losses are all coming from our scouting department?
Are the job losses really COVID-19 related?
Or just an opportunistic power-grab?
Thanks Emirates
Pedro,
As you know I’ve been deeply sceptical of your “contacts and agents run Arsenal’s recruitment” line.
IF Cagigao has indeed been made redundant I will humbly withdraw my scepticism.
“Kia Joorabchian on June 18: “[It’s] not just David Luiz’s situation. There are several issues within the whole structure that will be resolved.”
This is actually pretty concerning though. It implies an agent is aware of the moves Arsenal intends to make on its “structure”.
I am just gonna watch it all unfold though. No villains and heroes for me yet.
Captain Wasi
“”” Cagigao is a top top scout.””””
And that’s exactly why he is being sacked.
Who needs proven and experienced scouts when The Fat Spiv is in charge and constantly outsmarting the market.
I have not received any email from Arsenal regarding my intentions next season.
Wait so stroller didn’t get an email and Marc didn’t get an email but Val got an email… allegedly.
Hmmmm
Words, you should have been sceptical before because the facts spoke for themselves.
My agendas are always narrated from real things I get from people at the club.
“What would any owner do that cared about the welfare of the club and it’s employees? At the least he could offer and interest free loan. £200m. £500m Whatever. He could help. He isn’t. He’s a rotten old yank fucking lizard.” Don their roles within the club has been made redundant. It literally means they no longer have a role to play within the club, to break it down for you further it means when they turn up for work there is no actual work for them to do So why do you think Kroenke should intervene to keep them… Read more »
“My agendas are always narrated from real things I get from people at the club.”
Always is stretching it a bit
Marc,
From what was reported at the time, I don’t think his agent wanted the discussion was about the need to cut back which were obvious. It was more along the line, ok so you are asking us for a pay cut for X%, what does that means for the club.
The same way unions work in Germany to establish a plan out of the situation with management.
I think that the way it was then presented by a the same British tabloids made it sound a lot worse than it actually was.
Pedro I understand from that POV, I’m just not receiving news of Cagigao being moved on as a dagger to the heart like it’s being offered in some quarters. My eyebrow is raised at more behind the scenes movement once again, because I’m a believer in a certain level of continuity etc, but that said we did just hire a new manager middle of the season plus his staff – there’s more coaching hires due, and there could be a link in recruitment too. I’ll need more info to come out before I reach any conclusions one way or another,… Read more »
Valentin
“It was more along the line, ok so you are asking us for a pay cut for X%, what does that means for the club.”
That’s my whole point – they didn’t know long term, we still don’t know when we’ll see fans back in the stadium.
What were they supposed to show him?
Receding,
Technically you are made redundant when the role you are actually performing is no longer required.
The fact that he has an internal replacement already lined up means that his role is still necessary. So it is not really a redundancy more like a use of the COVID-19 to get rid of people of “integrity” as said by The Athletic.
If Francis Caggio is really sacked, I am jumping on the fucking contacts scouting bandwagon. It’s Insane. Fucking Hell he found us Martinelli
Is stan deliberately trying to make us a mid table team?
Valentin
Who’s the internal replacement?
Marc,
So you want millionaire players to blindly trust the club that it will look after them.
Blackpool players did the same thing and the chairman gave himself a pay rise.
If an employer ask its employee to lower their wage, but no proper plan is put in place, the same thing will happen every six months, weeks.
I don’t see that as unreasonable for employees to request to see that a proper plan has been thought out before committing to those pay cuts. Even if the plan has contingencies built in.
“Who’s the internal replacement?”
Would like to know too.
Hope you know the bit about the Chilean Eduardo on twitter was just a joke
That bit about his “integrity” too is unnecessary, what’s that based on anyway?
Marc,
His replacement was given in the article that I read. It was the scout Eduardo Hagn.
“Yeah. I think he should. I worry that this plays into certain hands perfectly and they can cut back and use a “skeleton crew” to run the club in future. No scouts. No analysts.” Don’t care as long as we have a 25 man squad of players who can perform for this club on the pitch. You are the fellow who thinks Jack Wilshere should still be drawing a wage here though so i get you are very much into freebies. A football club is a business and no owner should be meant to pay people salaries for doing nothing.… Read more »
Valentin
The Executive staff took a larger paycut – they would have discussed that with the players etc it’s the idea of them rolling out a long term business plan for Ozil when no one knows whats going to happen.
Question, do you still think the Raul power grab is an agenda thing from me?
Pedro, nothing is keeping arteta from saying no to the players he is being offered by Raul.
Don’t forget arteta gets the last say on who comes in, and before you try and refute that, arteta said it himself in a conference.
So, my question is, why are you not ranting on arteta for agreeing to a 32 year old and only aiming at Raul? You had you panties in a twist even at the mere rumors of banega last season.
Receding,
The article in the Athletic refers to Cagigao as a man of integrity. Hence my remark.
From the article and from what I have been told he can be prickly, but will always tell you his honest opinion. Even at time when he shouldn’t.
“Even at time when he shouldn’t.”
Yeah that doesn’t always go down well with management – I should know!
Personally the sacking of Cagiogao is a RED FLAG for me. More Agent led signings income.
“Eduardo Hagn
@EduardoHagn
I’ve just made an important decision in my life. This was my first year studying Computer Engineering, but I’ve decided to switch to the career that fills me with passion. I’m now going to study Journalism and make the dream of being a Sports Journalist a reality.”
This Eduardo Hagn? Come on Valentin don’t believe everything you read
Found Fabregas and Bellerin in arguably the most prestigious youth academy in world football.
If the sacking of Cagigao isn’t a red flag, your head is deep in the sand.
“The article in the Athletic refers to Cagigao as a man of integrity. Hence my remark.”
Ok thought maybe you knew him personally from one of your regular” running into’s”
“From the article and from what I have been told he can be prickly, but will always tell you his honest opinion. Even at time when he shouldn’t.”
Doesn’t mean his opinions are always right though
If the club has a better external replacement only then does this sack make sense.
What do people make of this line from the clubs statement
“ We have also received significant financial support from our owners, Kroenke, Sports & Entertainment in terms of refinancing our stadium debt”
CC
I once found a really nice dish on a top restaurant menu – does that mean I’m qualified to be a food critic?
Marc, Maybe it is a cultural difference, but you seems to view management as separate to employees. that antagonism between management and employees can be counter productive. It is not about management taking a pay cut. It is about transparency, trust and accountability. BTW, taking officially a pay cut can easily be offset by being given derivatives payoff, guaranteed bonus, consultancy fees, or extra pensions. I vividly remember the directors of Phoenix Venture Holding who took over Rover on TV pretending to make a financial sacrifice for the good of the company before it was revealed in a government report… Read more »
Receding,
I never said that he was always right. I said that he was a man of integrity.
I doubt that was ever said of Raul and Kia.
“Found Fabregas and Bellerin in arguably the most prestigious youth academy in world football.”
Well they both didn’t have super agents back then so all is forgiven
Receding,
There is no indication that the person with the Instagram/Twitter account is in any way related to that person.
Maybe there is more than one person in the entire world called Eduardo Hagn…
What duties does Cagigao do at Arsenal explicitly, does someone want to start there?
Because it’s incredibly easy to spin technical changes, but offering explicit detail and remit of what’s being lost/replaced gives a clearer picture.
“A football club is not a business. Not the fans. I am a fan. Kroenke is not. He views it as a business because that’s served his ends”
A proper War crime that
“Other owners do not view their clubs as a business”
Well easy not to if you are bankrolling the club with a country’s oil wealth
“You clearly do not view the club as a fan”
And he is a mind reader to booth
Martinelli’s dad is his agent. The kid was playing in the 4th division in Brazil. I doubt super agents were involved.
“And they ended up at arsenal. Nowhere else. Because of this man.“
Wasn’t aware you were so intimate with the recruitment at Arsenal
Valentin
Eduardo Hagn is an Arsenal fan with many followers. His name was mentioned as a joke because he wants Arsenal to sign every new flavour of the month who has a good game
“Maybe there is more than one person in the entire world called Eduardo Hagn…”
I stand corrected but do you know him? This other Eduardo Hagn?
Cos i checked and nothing came up. If a football club is dropping its Head of International Scouting for someone shouldn’t be hard to read snippets about him. Is he already at the club or are they poaching?
And if indeed he is being replaced why all the uproar then?
“The kid was playing in the 4th division in Brazil. I doubt super agents were involved.”
Maybe his Dad was a sleeper agent? Or an apprentice agent waiting to unleash evil upon Arsenal and rule the World.
“I never said that he was always right. I said that he was a man of integrity.I doubt that was ever said of Raul and Kia.”
Valenti you really should be the last poster going on and on about integrity, not on this streets….
Valentin
“There is no indication that the person with the Instagram/Twitter account is in any way related to that person.
Maybe there is more than one person in the entire world called Eduardo Hagn…”
For fucks sake just stop it – at this rate you’ll pop up in China’s living room if you keep digging.
“Martinelli’s dad is his agent. The kid was playing in the 4th division in Brazil. I doubt super agents were involved.”
Well his dad identifies as a super agent and now he is offended.
Receding
That’s funny!
Receding,
From the report, he is already at the club and is likely to be promoted.
I find that worrisome that Kia was Cognizant of changes coming before the people in question.
The bigger question will there be a scouting department left anyway. Looks like Kia is taking over.
We can hope that he will find good players for Arsenal, but at what cost and what long term consequences.
Any billionaire making redundancies at this stage is grotesque and frankly they don’t deserve to rape the world of resources, tax breaks and productivity of us poor sods working so they can go missing when their employees and market needs them most . I hope history remembers them for what they are…. Add to that our chief scout and others potentially going, let’s hope they are to be replaced but if not then the perpetual loss of leadership, values and class is worrying regardless of who we sign. Otherwise we may as well just support any team given this institution… Read more »
What duties does Cagigao do at Arsenal explicitly, does someone want to start there?
He oversaw the scouting in South America and then became the head of recruitment. He’s basically THE talent spotter at Arsenal overlooking the scouting. Basically head scout who overlooks other scouts
Receding
I know very little about them but Martenelli is represented by a Brazilian agency called TFN
https://www.tfmagency.com.br/all
“I find that worrisome that Kia was Cognizant of changes coming before the people in question.”
That is indeed a worry i give you that
“I know very little about them but Martenelli is represented by a Brazilian agency called TFNhttps://www.tfmagency.com.br/all”
All pics on the website in black and white…can’t get more super than that!!
Marko
Sound eminently replaceable.
Just how have Arsenal done in the last 5 years in terms of recruitment? Can’t get on board with the Cagigao worship I’m seeing, stinks of *insert hatred of Raul and co.*…..and that’s from someone who needs a boat load of convincing on their part.
Was all for the bulldozing of stagnancy post-Wenger, I don’t shed the tears for a 23-year scout.
Personally think there’s no room for passing comment on the landscape until more has been shared on the topic.
If you’re talking about 55 people on the average national wage of £30k that’s around £1,650,000 a year, or Ozil’s wage for 4.7 weeks….. It’s a saving equivalent to a 9% pay cut for MO. Nor sure how the 2+1 offer to Willain works. If Chelsea offered him 2 years then unless the +1 year from us is guaranteed (and he has the option, not us) then why would he accept it? Especially since we’re supposed to be offering less money. Something smells fishy (and £130,000 a week isn’t the low wage we were lead to believe was on the… Read more »
Seems pretty obvious that the club view Cagigao as expendable given the bulk (if not all) of our signings in the next year or so will be Kia’s clients.
That’s a depressing thought.
Receding I dunno those comments from Kia seemed in reference to the deal itself but maybe not
Just a pity we couldn’t sack Ozil.
Maybe those 55 were, in total, on less than Ozil.
Life ain’t fair.
Doesnt sound too difficult to deduce that while Cag was basically scouting brazil now we have kia who basically already has brazil under wraps. A kronk decision imo
Just hope Steve ” you spin me right around baby right round” Round doesn’t get the chop.
What am I saying?
Of course they’d be earning( in total) less than Ozil.
Andy 1886
If youve ever put a budget together for a large biz youd know player wages and staff wages are most likely not handled/negotiated/funded similarly. One is most likely funded directly from large loans/ lines of credit, one is covered thru prob matchday rev alone. Apples & oranges even though the currency is the same
I just read that Cagigao was just let go by Arsenal.
Something is not quite right with this club.
We are giving out 3-4 year contracts for 30 year olds and firing our best scouts
Express reporting weve offered Willian a 2 yr deal w option for further season
Something definitely seems off at the club. A lot of bizarre moves recently.
Dream10
” Eduardo Hagn’s name was mentioned as a joke because he wants Arsenal to sign every new flavour of the month who has a good game”
Formerly known as Marko.
Willian on 2+1 isn’t a bad piece of business, though, if it really is a club option for the third year.
Paulinho you like Round?
Personally I found Arteta bringing him on board underwhelming… Of course this is based on his antecedents purely as I don’t know anything about him besides what I read. Just didn’t look like a visionary move then, still doesn’t.
Charles I get what you’re saying and I agree with it though I do like the idea behind Cagigao given how long he’s been here and some of the signings that have been attributed to him. But you are correct about wedding to the idea of Cagigao being this irreplaceable entity at Arsenal. Could probably snatch up someone from any of the Red Bulls or someone at Lille or Juve or Benfica and we wouldn’t miss a beat.
Dissenter
“I just read that Cagigao was just let go by Arsenal”
Really?
Zacharse, I’m not aware that AFC have any large loans or other forms of credit other than the stadium debt, if we did they would show up in the annual report no?
Player purchases are often paid over a period of several years but I’m not sure that wages come out of anything other than our income over the period that they are paid. I’m pretty sure that Ozil’s transfer fee was paid off long ago.
Receding apparently Round is the disciplinarian the bad cop to Mikel’s good cop in the squad. Those non negotiables get enforced by him it seems