Arteta defends Arsenal job cuts, says club must 'evolve to create success'

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended the club's decision to cut 60 jobs, saying the club must "evolve to create success," according to several media reports on Friday.

The club announced plans to make 60 staff members redundant across various administrative departments, just six months after winning their first Premier League title in 22 years, as reported by The Independent. The decision has drawn criticism, with the Evening Standard noting that the Gunners have faced backlash over the plans.

Arteta's response

Speaking to the media, Arteta backed the club's move, insisting it is part of a broader effort to improve. According to The Guardian, he said the club needs to "evolve and create success." ESPN and BBC Sport both reported that Arteta was told the job cuts will help the club "achieve success." The Italian news agency ANSA quoted Arteta as saying the club is "evolving to improve."

However, Maisfutebol reported that Arteta was evasive when asked about the redundancies, only saying that the "objective is to improve." This contrasts with the more direct defense reported by other outlets.

New contract and squad photo

The news comes just days after Arteta signed a new contract worth £20 million a year, according to the Daily Mail. The same report also confirmed that Arsenal will retake their squad photo after missing William Saliba in the original.

Context

The redundancies have sparked debate about the club's priorities, especially given the recent title success and Arteta's lucrative new deal. The club has not yet issued a detailed public statement explaining the reasons behind the job cuts, beyond the manager's comments.