Maguire blasts ‘bad value for money’ Arsenal as Tottenham hailed amid £235m reveal
Arsenal have spent a huge amount on wages in recent years but have almost nothing to show for it – unlike Tottenham.
That is according to finance guru and Football Insider columnist Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively after Arsenal beat Spurs 2-1 in the North London derby on Sunday.
Arsenal published their financial results last Friday, posting a £47.8million loss compared to a £27.1m shortfall for the previous financial year.
One of the standout figures in the 42-page document is the £234.5m the club spent on wages from their total turnover of £341m in the last financial year.
Maguire blasted Arsenal – who finished 8th last season and are currently 10th – and said that clubs like Tottenham represent immeasurably better value for money.
He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: “They are not getting good value for money, especially if you compare them to Spurs.
“They’ve got a wage bill substantially higher than Spurs’ and Spurs have been qualifying for the Champions League regularly.
“Arsenal are punching below their weight and Tottenham are punching above.
“There has been the very public issue with Mesut Ozil, of course. If you’ve got expensive players and you tie them to a longer contract, what happens when that player loses form or popularity or interest in the game? That’s part of the reason they are where they are.”
Despite the defeat to Gunners on Sunday, Spurs are three places and four points better off than their rivals in the league table.
They have finished no lower than 6th since the 2008-09 campaign, though no silverware has materialised in that timeframe.
In other news, a top pundit has suggested Arsenal may rival West Ham for the permanent signature of Jesse Lingard.