Last night Robin Van Persie came out saying that Arsenal need to break their wage strcuture if they want to keep their squad together.
Already having lost Flamini, and now facing losing Hleb, Van Persie put further pressure on the club to revaluate the contracts of players like Fabregas and Adebayor. He said:
“They should make sure that these players stay”
“Arsenal have a policy in which they will not go over a specific amount of money when agreeing the salary of a player. They won’t pay enormous amounts of money. I think that they should go to a higher level of salary.
“If you want to keep the group together, you have to keep them happy. If you are 27 or 28 I can understand that you would make the decision to go elsewhere if you can earn three or four times as much. If that sort of money was also paid at Arsenal I’m sure that person would stay.”
“It is very important that Arsenal keep these guys. This group is unique. If a number of them leave it will be different. I think of myself as an Arsenal man but Arsenal should also try to make sure that we all grow together.”
The issue of wages has been hotly debated ever since Flamini left for AC.
I think that RVP does have a point, the club can’t just be naive and hope that players will just stay at Arsenal even when they are offered fat contracts elsewhere.
This is sad, but it is how modern football works. I don’t think that we need to raise salaries greatly though. The best course fo action would be to reassess the wage structure, but the club doesn’t have to go crazy in raises.
We don’t want a system which will spiral out of control and leave us in huge debt. Because of this I do still have sympathy with the club.
It would be even better is if we could just sign some guys who won’t fuck off as soon as they see some extra cash, but instead want to work in a great team at a great club.
What do you think? Should the wage structure be thrown out the window?
ArseSpeak 
hmm think that’s a matter we should leave to the staff cause they are able to talk to the players themselves and im sure they’ll come to agreement with reasonable people like cesc and ade, and if needed they’ll raise the wages…
on the other hand I find it highly inappropriate that robin talks with the pres over such a theme that should stay within the club, and maybe some of his words are twisted, he could have expected that tbh…
nasri is finally in, let’s hope few good follow!
go arsene !
I think Arsenal needs to move with the trend but with caution. I think it is important to reassess the wage structure into an upper sustainable level in order to still leave room for future and other financial obligations.
However the tail should not wag the dog. players canot decide how much they should be paid but should learn to grow together and earn as a team.
Loyalty is very important even when it is painful. both club and player should reach an agreeable amount that does not cause other tensions in the team.
What do you think Guys?
I totally agree.
There will come a time when our wage structure is dated and prevents us competing. I think it will be a case of ‘move with the times’ at some point, and if cometetive pay ensures we keep the likes of Fabregas at the club, then I’m all for it. As you say, it should be done with caution and gradually, otherwise it will only be a negative thing.