Arsenal aren’t planning to ask their women’s team to take a pay cut, following the men largely agreeing to a 12.5% reduction in salary.

Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal runs with the ball during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Arsenal and Bristol City at Meadow Park on December 01, 2019 in Borehamwood, United Kingdom.
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal runs with the ball on December 01, 2019. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)

The Evening Standard report that Arsenal have ‘no plans’ to ask their women’s team to take a pay cut. All but two or three of the men’s team agreed to a 12-month 12.5% cut this week, but this didn’t apply to their female counterparts.

The reason is fairly simple – the women don’t earn nearly as much to begin with. The Standard article claims the average women’s professional player earns less than £35,000-a-year.

Arsenal Women are obviously better off than your average club. They’re one of the most successful women’s clubs in existence and have one of the best-paid squads in the WSL.

All the same, there’s a huge gap from £35,000-a-year to the £35,000-a-week a low-paid men’s squad member would make. Not to mention the £350,000-a-week someone like Mesut Özil earns.

A 12.5% cut on Özil’s salary would cover 65 players on £35,000-a-year. This isn’t an attempt to shame Özil, we don’t know his reasons for reportedly not agreeing to the cut yet. It just highlights how much more important it was for the men to take a cut.

There isn’t the same need for the women to take a cut. It wouldn’t help to protect as many jobs and it might leave some of them in financial difficulties, depending on their personal situation. It’s good news Arsenal can afford to keep paying them.