Arsenal have announced they will have to make 55 staff members redundant due to the financial implications of the ongoing pandemic.

Arsenal stated that, with no return of fans to stadiums in sight, they had no choice but to make the difficult decision to let 55 staff members go, although they do not specify who they will be or from what departments they will come from.

The statement, which was signed by Head of Football, Raul Sanlleh and Managing Director, Vinai Venkatesham, said, amongst other things, “We do not make these proposals lightly and have looked at every aspect of the club and our expenditure before reaching this point. We are now entering the required 30-day consultation period on these proposals.

“These proposed changes are ultimately about ensuring we take this great football club forward, creating the right organisation for a post-Covid world, and ensuring we have the resources to return to competing effectively at the top of the game here and in Europe.”

This is, of course, going to be the reality for many top clubs without fans in their stadium.

We are the lucky ones, although the people losing their jobs will certainly not feel that way and our sympathies lie with them.

Many clubs, however, will cease to exist altogether as Covid-19 and the struggle to deal with it reshapes our world, most likely forever.

You can read Arsenal’s full statement here.