BUT ARSENAL’S HIGHEST PAID PLAYER WON’T BE RUSHED AS CLUB ENFORCES CUTS

ARSENAL are still trying to convince their pay-cut rebels to agree a 12.5% wage reduction for a year.

At least three players are resisting, one of whom is highest-earner Mesut Ozil.

Nevertheless, Arsenal announced on Monday that they had reached a voluntary agreement with their first-team players, manager Mikel

Arteta and coaching staff to cut salaries.

As it stands, the pay-cut proposal remains on the table, while lines of communication between the club and its players are open, with Arsenal officials optimistic they can convince at least two of the three to accept the new terms.

At the end of last week, there were at least seven reluctant players.

The number of rebels has reduced significantly in recent days, but Arsenal have a difficult task to convert the last three, with persuading Ozil of particular importance given his £350 000-a-week wage.

Ozil is willing to take a pay cut in the future but wants greater transparency over why players are being asked to lose 12.5% of their income rather than offered a deferral. He is open to a deferral worth more than the 12.5% pay cut his teammates have agreed to – but wants to ensure he is making an informed decision and will not be rushed.

The next step for Arsenal is to draw up the necessary paperwork to ensure the proposed pay cut can be legally implemented.

Making the wage reductions binding will almost inevitably involve agents and lawyers, a scenario which could throw the process back into disarray.