Lyon's French midfielder Houssem Aouar (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Metz (FC Metz) and Lyon (OL) at Saint Symphorien stadium in Longeville-lès-Metz, eastern France, on February 21, 2020. (Photo by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP)

How will Arsenal’s transfer business be impacted by fan delay?

Sep 27, 2020

Reports suggest fans won’t return to stadiums next month, sparking fears the financial losses could affect Arsenal’s transfer business.

Alaves' Spanish midfielder Pere Pons (R) challenges Atletico Madrid's Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey during the Spanish League football match between Atletico Madrid and Alaves at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on June 27, 2020. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images) — Alaves’ Pere Pons (R) challenges Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey on June 27, 2020. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)

As we covered earlier today, the latest reports are that the Government will ‘pause’ their plans to bring supporters back to stadiums. This means further financial losses for clubs expecting ticket income in the coming weeks.

Arsenal will certainly be among those affected, given the high proportion of their annual income coming from ticket sales. So the update has supporters worrying over whether it will affect the club’s transfer business this month.

Football.London report that Arsenal could lose £80m in 2020/21 as things stand. However, Vinai Venkatesham is on record saying the club consider new signings as capital investment, which is why they’re still happening despite job cuts.

Obviously, the delays make the financial situation even more difficult than before. But “for the right player” Arsenal are still willing to spend. Once they’ve moved a few of the current squad on, of course.

The Government are also working on a bailout for the Premier League. This should help cover for the matchday losses of £100m a month across the division.

You’d imagine Arsenal will worry that failing to invest in the market will lead to them falling behind. Losing out on prize money in Europe and the Premier League, missing out on sponsors who want to advertise with the best players, and so on.

Fail to strengthen properly now, and maybe you can’t afford to do it next summer either. Then you’re in a dangerous downward spiral. So whilst the lack of fans is a big problem for Arsenal, they’re not going to pull out of the market completely.