Since joining Arsenal earlier this year, Andrea Berta has exceeded all expectations.
The new Sporting Director may not have been responsible for the signing of Martin Zubimendi, but he and his team deserve the credit for the other seven additions made to Mikel Arteta’s squad over the summer.
That includes the potential game-changers Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze, who were included in the club’s Champions League squad.
Yet, he still needs to improve the club’s ability to move on players, including one in particular who earns more than Eze and Gyokeres.
Arsenal's Champions League squad
With the excitement of transfer deadline day and the return of the Premier League, it’s easy to forget that the Champions League draw took place last week, and the first games of the league stage are scheduled to take place in under two weeks.
Wage Burners
Football FanCast’s Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.
The Gunners’ first match will see them travel to Spain to play Athletic Bilbao, and while we can take a guess at what the starting line-up will be, we now know the squad Arteta has picked.
There are 23 names on the list – with Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly being on the B list due to their ages – and not too many surprises.
The likes of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhães, Gyokeres and Eze are all there, for example.
Interestingly, so is Max Dowman, as being so young, he does not qualify as a ‘locally trained player’, which is someone who has spent three full seasons with the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
If the Hale End gem ends up playing in the league phase, he will become the youngest player in the competition’s history, taking the record from Youssoufa Moukoko.
Another positive inclusion is Kai Havertz, which suggests reports of him being able to return to the fray before Christmas were accurate.
However, there is one notable absence: a player who earns more than Gyokeres and Eze and should probably be moved on next year.
The Arsenal star earning more than Eze & Gyokeres
Given their performances over the last few seasons and the signings they’ve made, it should come as no surprise that Arsenal have a substantial wage bill, one that is further inflated by the additions of Gyokeres and Eze.
The former earns around £200k-per-week and the latter around £175k-per-week, which for one of the most prolific strikers in Europe and one of England’s most creative midfielders, seems about right.
Yet, both earn substantially less than Gabriel Jesus, who is on around £220k-per-week, which works out to £11.4m-per-year, or about £36m since he put pen to paper in early July 2022.
Since joining the club, the mercurial forward has made 96 appearances, in which he’s scored 26 goals and provided 20 assists.
In other words, in wages alone, he has cost around £375k-per-appearance, £1.38m-per-goal and £1.8m-per-assist.
Wages (Total)
£220k (£36m)
Appearances
96
Cost per Appearance
£375k
Goals
26
Cost per Goal
£1.38m
Assists
20
Cost per Assist
£1.8m
Unfortunately, the 28-year-old star has been left out of the UCL squad due to the ACL injury he suffered against Manchester United in January, and he’s likely to be out of the team overall until the end of the year at the earliest.
Now, it has to be said that, when fit, the former Manchester City monster is one of the most entertaining and skilful attackers to watch in the Premier League, and someone who would be a massive boost to Arteta.
However, since moving to North London, he has suffered seven injuries, which have forced him to sit on the sidelines for 519 days and miss 79 games and counting.
Ultimately, the “frustrating” Brazilian maestro, as dubbed by Micah Richards, shouldn’t be blamed for his horrendous misfortune in this regard.
However, it is impossible to deny the fact that he is extraordinarily injury-prone and, therefore, regardless of his undeniable talent, he cannot be relied upon as an important member of the squad.
Therefore, while it might sound harsh, Berta and Co should look to move him on at the end of the season, as he cannot sit on the sidelines on his wages for another campaign, only to leave for free in 2027.