Arsenal players could be set to receive bonuses of £500k each

The Gunners currently sit fourth in the Premier League

Arsenal's players are reportedly in line for large lump sum bonuses worth up to £500,000 each if the Gunners finish in the Champions League places at the end of the season. The north London outfit have not competed in Europe's premier competition since 2017, when they lost 10-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich in the Round of 16. Mikel Arteta's men currently occupy the fourth-place position in the Premier League table after overtaking Manchester United in recent weeks. Despite being just one point ahead of the Red Devils, the Gunners have three games in hand over Ralf Rangnick's side. Securing Champions League qualification can be worth at least £50million in prize money for clubs, and the Daily Mail report that Arsenal's players are set to receive a percentage of that if the club finishes in the top four. It adds that a one-off bonus would be shared among Arteta's squad, with the amount that each player could expect to receive being calculated on a pro-rata basis with the top figure around the £500,000 mark. Some players are also thought that have separate clauses included in their contracts which would see their weekly wages increase for the season during which the club are playing in the Champions League group stages.

Should the Gunners reach next season's Champions League, it will present them with further opportunities to increase their income. This is because the squad could add progress-related bonuses to their schedule prior to the start of next season.

A return to the European competition would help Arteta keep hold of his promising young stars, such as Bukayo Saka, who the Gunners are trying to secure on a new contract.

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