Arsenal stars face losing mega bonuses

LONDON: Arsenal players will lose bonuses worth millions if they fail to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1997.

Arsene Wenger’s side are fifth, five points behind Liverpool in fourth, with two games in hand.

It is also understood some players could be forced to accept pay cuts if Arsenal miss out on Europe’s elite club competition.

In contrast, when Chelsea missed out on Champions League football last season, their stars’ salaries stayed the same. They prefer to reward players for winning trophies rather than qualifying for Europe.

Missing out on the Champions League can cost a club millions. Last season Arsenal received £46.7 million (RM256 million) from UEFA for reaching the round of 16.

Liverpool received £33.1 million for reaching the Europa League final, where they lost to Sevilla. Tottenham, who were also in the Europa League, received £18.3 million.

This season Arsenal were crushed 10-2 on aggregate in the first knockout stage of the Champions League by Bayern Munich, who they will face in a pre-season friendly in China this summer as part of the International Champions Cup.

The friendly on July 19 will be followed by a match against Chelsea on

July 22 at Beijing’s Bird’s

Nest Stadium.