Dr Dan Plumley

Mon 29 August 2022 12:07, UK

Arsenal are likely to pass Uefa’s Financial Fair Play tests for 2022-23 – but only just.

That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Gunners’ presence on Uefa’s FFP watchlist.

The Times reported on Monday (22 August) that Arsenal are now one of 20 clubs being monitored closely by European football’s governing body.

Uefa allows clubs to lose approximately £25million over a rolling three-year period, although a new revenue-based system is set to be phased in from next season.

Arsenal have once again spent heavily this summer despite having not qualified for the lucrative Champions League for five seasons.

But Plumley predicts that they will pass Uefa’s FFP assessment “by the skin of their teeth”.

“I’m making some assumptions, but I don’t think it’s a huge concern for now,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.

“Uefa haven’t made direct contact and the club seems bullish that they can conform. It seems like it’s just one of those that is going on in the background. There will be plenty of other teams on the watchlist.

“They did have a big loss in 2021. We can’t see the 2022 figures yet, which will account for some of the spending this summer. There are also players they have got off the wage bill.

“But we have to factor in that the Covid seasons have been averaged out over two seasons into one season in terms of FFP. Arsenal also generate a lot from matchday revenue, which we have to take into account.

“They also made a profit in 2018, which we have to factor in. I think you can theoretically get them to a position where they are okay under FFP by the skin of their teeth. That’s how I would pitch it.

“They have been hit by not being in the Champions League, but I think they will realistically be okay. FFP is changing as well, so I don’t think this is a major concern.”

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