REACTION
‘How can Arsenal offer Aubameyang and Willian deals now?’ – Redundancies ‘a moral own goal’ by the Gunners, says Ally McCoist
Ally McCoist says Arsenal’s redundancies announcement is a ‘big own goal’ for the club and has questioned how it can be ‘morally right’ to now offer big-money contracts to the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Willian.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Gunners announced their intension to lay off 55 staff due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the club’s finances.
Arsenal’s head of football, Raul Sanllehi, and managing director, Vinai Venkatesham, called the redundancies ‘upsetting’ and ‘difficult’, but also announced the club’s plans to continue investing in the playing squad as they aim to compete ‘effectively at the top of the game here and in Europe’.
Among those set to leave the Emirates Stadium is famed scout Francis Cagigao – the man who discovered the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Gabriel Martinelli and who has played an instrumental role in the club’s recruitment for over a decade.
The club’s head of UK scouting Peter Clark and fellow recruitment specialist Brian McDermott have also been shown the door, according to reports.
And the news also came on the day Arsenal tabled a formal offer to sign Chelsea winger Willian, offering the Brazilian a three-year contract worth £100,000-a-week.
The club are desperate to keep hold of captain and talismanic goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, also; the striker has entered the final 12 months of his contract and has been linked with signing a new deal worth around £250,000-a-week after his heroics in the FA Cup final last weekend.
But McCoist has questioned how either of those deals can now be morally viable for Arsenal after making a number of staff members redundant.
“I don’t think you can defend it, you really can’t – how can you? I think most Arsenal supporters will agree with that.
“It’s indefensible to think, for example, that scout who has been at Arsenal for what, 30 years? They are the fabric of the club, players come and go…
“I understand the dilemma, particularly for Arteta – things have started really well and he’ll want to strengthen his squad; he’s signing Willian and you’ve got to keep Aubameyang…
“But you tell me how that possibly can be morally right if you’re offering somebody another £100,000-a-week, when somebody who is maybe on £200-a-week is getting the sack!”
