Arsenal finance round-up: Rodrygo and PSR, Stan Kroenke’s ‘Hollywood’ stadium plan, £175m windfall

Arsenal are set to equal an unwanted record by finishing 2nd in the Premier League three times in successive seasons, which has left fans pining for owner Stan Kroenke to propel them to the next step.

Despite their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, 2024-25 has been a year of regression for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta on the pitch.

If they win their final-day clash against Southampton, they will finish the season on 74 points, which is a far more modest haul than 2021-22 (84 points) and 2023-24 (89 points).

In a handful of seasons in recent years, 74 points has not been enough to end the Premier League campaign in the top four. Significantly, it will also be another season without silverware for the Gunners.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	37	25	8	4	85	40	45	83
2	ArsenalArsenal	37	19	14	4	67	33	34	71
3	Man CityManchester City	37	20	8	9	70	44	26	68

Had the North Londoners signed a striker in January, it’s entirely possible that they could have made a fist of the title race and got the better of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. But Stan Kroenke, Arsenal’s owners since 2011, decided that the numbers didn’t add up.

Josh Kroenke, who is now the public face of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) at the Emirates Stadium, has promised that there will be investment this summer.

But KSE like to run a zero-sum game in football finance.

The American owners have had to subsidise deficits in recent years but, with losses totalling almost £330m since they last made a profit, are keen to move towards a more self-sufficient model.

That means that Arsenal’s summer transfer budget will need to be fully costed, with every pound accounted for by future revenues.

Here, TBR Football takes a look at the recent developments that could influence how much they are able to spend this summer and beyond.

• READ MORE: Arsenal must agree free transfer for player Mikel Arteta once suggested was ‘one of the best’ in Premier League history

Finances might be a problem in Arsenal’s pursuit of Rodrygo – but not PSR

One blockbuster name on the Gunners’ radar is Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo Goes, whose playing time could be limited under incoming manager Xabi Alonso’s system at the Bernabéu.

TBR Football exclusively revealed that Arsenal believe they can sign Rodrygo, who has been in contact with several Premier League clubs.

Reports elsewhere have suggested that the finances of a deal could be difficult. Liverpool reportedly had an £84m bid for the Brazilian knocked back last summer and the forward has £200,000-a-week contract.

However, if Arsenal don’t go all in on Rodrygo, it won’t be because of PSR.

Arsenal lost £52m in 2022-23 but, after 30th June, that will no longer be part of their three-year PSR calculation, replaced by a far modest loss of £18m in 2023-24.

This season, thanks to massive Champions League income and climbing commercial and matchday revenue, they will probably swing back to profit in 2024-25.

Under Premier League rules, that gives them more or less the full £105m PSR allowance.

UEFA’s rules are slightly tighter but the data shows that they won’t be an issue either.

• READ MORE: Ian Wright can’t believe what he’s just heard about Mikel Arteta at Arsenal

Emirates Stadium expansion clue? Stan Kroenke reveals next step in SoFi revamp

Last summer, Josh Kroenke revealed that Arsenal want to expand the Emirates.

The plans were in their nascent phase back then, but more detail has since emerged. Arsenal seemingly want to add around 20,000 seats in a project that is likely to cost upwards of £500m.

This month, UK base interest rates have fallen for the third time in a row, which could make borrowing the money for the stadium rebuild easier. Either way, however, it will still be phenomenally expensive.

What’s more, it isn’t the only stadium project the Kroenkes are working on. In fact, when the Arsenal blueprints get the go-ahead, they will be juggling three separate capital expenditure programmes.

KSE are building a huge new commercial-residential district on the site of Ball Arena in Denver, home to Kroenke’s NBA and NHL franchises.

Meanwhile, they are also doing something similar in Los Angeles, home of the spaceship-style SoFi Stadium. Stan Kroenke has submitted plans for a new mixed-use space and training centre for the LA Rams, his NFL franchise, who play at the nearby SoFi.

Both projects will cost tens of billions of dollars and could be a drain on resources for over 10 years.

Now, Kroenke has unveiled the latest step in the plan with official designs for a Hollywood studio and production centre on the SoFi site. Could this see the family enter the lucrative movie industry?

Whatever his plans, the various bricks-and-mortar projects currently underway across the KSE empire are emblematic of his vision for sport as a jumping off point for other industries and revenue streams.

• READ MORE: Arsenal trying to seal ‘difficult’ transfer for £120m player that would completely transform their attack

Arsenal’s Premier League prize money revealed

Unless there is a 12-goal swing between Manchester City and Arsenal on the final day, Mikel Arteta’s side will finish 2nd again this season.

Last season, that saw them bank £175m in media income from the Premier League, with UEFA income and other sources topping their total TV revenue up to £262.3m.

This season, the Premier League’s international rights market has grown slightly, but they can expect a similar prize money figure domestically.

Their total media income meanwhile will soar to new heights, potentially breaching the £300m mark for the first time, thanks mainly to the new Champions League format which Stan Kroenke helped devise.

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