Arsenal will be watching the latest financial news from the Middle East closely as they hope to secure a lucrative new commercial deal in the near future.
The Gunners have had something of a revival on the pitch in recent years, finishing 2nd in the Premier League two seasons in a row.
Their upturn in sporting performance has directly correlated with their financial outlook too.
Revenue reached a club-record £467m in 2022-23 and is expected to rise again by the time Arsenal reveal their accounts for 2023-24.
Commercial revenue from sponsorship and merchandising has played a large part in that. It reached £173m last season, which again was an all-time high for the club.
Their biggest deal is with Middle Eastern airline Emirates, who have become synonymous with the club thanks to their stadium naming rights and front-of-shirt partnership.
Emirates strike key sponsorship deal: Positive sign for Arsenal
As reported by Sport Business, Emirates have signed a renewal of their blockbuster sponsorship deal with the International Cricket Council.
The new contract runs until 2032, which surely indicates Emirates’ ongoing and long-term commitment to the sports sponsorship market.
Their partnership with Arsenal will be up for renewal within the next few years and negotiations over an improved deal are likely to be ramping up.
The current agreement is worth £200m over five years to the Gunners. They will be hoping for it to be even higher next time around.
Arsenal in strong financial position
While Arsenal’s revenue is not as strong as North London rivals Tottenham’s, they are still in a robust financial position.
They have flirted with financial fair play (now called Profit and Sustainability, or PSR) issues in recent years and were placed on a UEFA watchlist in 2022.
But their resurgence on the pitch means they are now a more attractive prospect in terms of commercial partners and will continue to bring in large matchday revenue.