ARSENAL are just four points above the relegation zone at Christmas.
And if the unthinkable were to happen and the Gunners actually go down, their stars would be set to miss out a lot of money.
How Arsenal’s top earners would be affected by relegation
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would stand to lose around £90k-a-weekCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The North Londoners’ annual wage bill is around £150million.
But should they go down, the majority of their stars would see their salaries slashed by 25 per cent.
This would take a hefty £37.5m off their yearly total.
So let’s take a look at who would stand to miss out on the most.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is currently their joint-top earner, having bagged himself a new three-year £350,000-a-week deal back in September.
But should his side be relegated, this will be slashed to £262.5k, reducing by nearly £90k every week.
Mesut Ozil also pockets £350k-a-week, but the Gunners won’t have to worry about his salary anymore, as his enormous contract finally expires at the end of the season.
Summer recruit Willian has not hit the ground running at the Emirates, with Ian Wright having called for the Brazilian to be dropped.
Not all Arsenal stars would be around long enough for the pay cut to kick inCredit: EPA
But he is their next highest earner at £220k-a-week, also on a three-year deal.
This figure would fall to £165k after relegation.
Alexandre Lacazette would see his £182k-a-week turn into £136k – while last year’s marquee signing Nicolas Pepe’s sum would fall to £105k from £140k.
David Luiz pockets £125k-a-week, but like Ozil, will not be around next season, with his one-year extension set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
Hector Bellerin would see his six-figure deal become a five-figure deal – with his £110k falling to £82k.
And Sead Kolasinac, Bernd Leno and Granit Xhaka could all see their £100k-a-week salaries become £75k-a-week.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
