Source: Team_Talk
Gunners post fine financial figures
Arsenal have announced record pre-tax profits of £56million and that they have paid off all the debt on their Highbury Square development.[LNB] The figures for the year ending May 31, 2010 show pre-tax group profits rose by £10.5million compared to the previous year.[LNB]Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: "The group has made good progress in the last year and I am excited by the opportunities we have in front of us."[LNB]The results also showed Arsenal's group turnover increased to £379.9million, from £313.3million in 2009, boosted by the income generated from property sales.[LNB]The debt related to the Highbury Square development - which once totalled £130million - has now been repaid in full with Arsenal now enjoying the benefits of income from apartment sales.[LNB]Profits are slightly down on the football side of the business due to Arsenal having five fewer home games last season and increased wage costs.[LNB]Gazidis said the wage increases had allowed Arsenal to remain competitive on the field.[LNB]"We continue to see upward pressure on player wages," he said. "A part of that is because we've invested fairly aggressively in our young player pool, and we have secured their long-term future with the club.[LNB]"This has been a very successful period of investment but it costs money. A part of it is also driven by the external environment in which we operate where player costs continue to go up."[LNB]Arsenal will continue to pursue their policy of developing players rather than buying big stars.[LNB]Gazidis added: "Most of [the profit] goes back into the playing side, whether into player contracts or transfer fees. Now that doesn't mean we can compete at the level of the Manchester Citys of this world in the transfer market, because those types of fees and those types of salaries are not sustainable for any football business.[LNB]"But it still means, I believe, that we can compete with them on the pitch.[LNB]"We do have a policy of building and not buying, and that's a difficult path to tread sometimes, but as a result of that policy we're seeing a tremendous number of good young players progressing and developing into the finished article and I think our performance against Spurs on Tuesday night illustrated this."[LNB]Other figures of interest include:[LNB]:: Arsenal made a £13.6million surplus on player sales - £10million more than last year.[LNB]:: Property sales contributed £11.2million towards pre-tax profits.[LNB]:: Wages up to £110.7million from £104million[LNB]:: The Emirates Stadium debt now stands at £239million with an annual interest payment of £14.6million and capital repayment of £5.6million meaning the stadium should be paid off in 20 years.[LNB]:: Arsenal have cash reserves of £127million.[LNB]The debt related to the Highbury Square development - which once totalled £130million - has now been repaid in full with Arsenal now enjoying the benefits of income from apartment sales - another 52 remain to be sold.[LNB]The club also have several other property venues to come on stream over the next three years.[LNB]The results also showed Arsenal's group turnover increased to £379.9 million, from £313.3million in 2009, boosted by the income generated from property sales.[LNB]If the property sales and revenue are not included, the football-related turnover was £222.9million, putting them second in the Premier League behind Manchester United's £276million.[LNB]United reported pre-tax profits of £48.2million in January - including the £80million from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo - while league champions Chelsea announced a £44.4million loss in December.[LNB]Arsenal's finances should continue to see them held up as an example for all clubs to follow. They would also see the Gunners qualify comfortably for UEFA's new financial fair play rules where clubs must only spend what they earn.
