Arsenal owner gets rich despite COVID-19
A study published last month by the Institute for Policy Studies revealed that billionaire Kroenke has not only not struggled but also gotten richer in the mid-COVID-19 era. The American tycoon's assets have increased by £323 million, bringing the total value to £8.1 billion.
This information surprised many people because Arsenal is the first team in the Premier League to cut player salaries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
First-team players, coach Mikel Arteta and core coaching staff have agreed to cut their salaries by 12.5% to help the team reduce the financial burden. However, it seems that the financial situation of the owners and the club is not as dangerous as announced.
"The savings will help offset some of the financial risks the team has encountered this season, related to ticket sales and trade income.
We are very proud and grateful to our players and staff for supporting the club together during these difficult times. This is the most difficult challenge in the history of the team and we must unite to overcome it together," Arsenal shared the difficult situation when announcing a salary reduction.
Is Ozil suffering unjustly?
Only 24 out of 27 first-team members agreed to a salary cut, the Daily Mail reported. Mesut Ozil and 2 others are expected to accept a request to clearly show financial difficulties.
Ozil was harshly criticized and had a "nessy". However, now that the opinions are reversing, billionaire Stan Kroenke is the greedy one and the German star has to suffer injustice.
Returning to the incident, ESPN once revealed that Ozil felt that the team's leadership and the players lacked information exchange. This is like the "three-level" deciding everything itself, and the people below will listen without asking. Ozil did not accept that and wanted to know exactly what purpose the money would be used for.
Ozil is on a £350,000-a-week salary but is not a struggler. Every year, the 31-year-old star regularly contributes 2-3 million pounds to charity funds around the world. ESPN also confirmed that Ozil is ready to cut wages more than his teammates if Arsenal are clearer about their "financial difficulties".
At that time, Ozil was criticized in large numbers and only a few dared to speak up to defend him, including former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
"I'm not sure what I'll do in this situation. I share with the players out there, who are facing a lot of criticism. I am talking about players from big teams with rich owners but putting pressure on the whole team to reduce their salaries.
If I play for such clubs, I will refuse the request for a salary reduction.
Players should not feel pressured, especially when playing for big teams. The contract with the team is a personal matter. How silly they are forced to reduce their salaries depends on each person's point of view. If they are forced to cut their salaries, the billionaires behind them should do the same," Roy Keane told Sky Sports.
Roy Keane's statement coincidentally matched the incident between Ozil and billionaire Stan Kroenke. While Arsenal's boss is getting richer every day, Ozil has been criticised for wanting financial transparency.
And in the end, there is no hard evidence, only the Turkish midfielder has endured the unjust scolding.
