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As Arsenal approach the end of the transfer window, debate rages over whether their squad is strong enough to hold on to the top spot in the Premier League table. Mikel Arteta has led his team to three runner-up finishes on the spin, but a fourth would feel damaging after a big-spending summer and a lightning-quick start to the campaign.

It's not just transfer fees that Arsenal have started to spend big on. Players competing for league titles will demand wages to match, and that's something the Gunners have started to do - and the numbers have crept up throughout Arteta's tenure.

One of the early marquee signings under the Spanish boss was Martin Odegaard, who arrived from Real Madrid following a successful loan. At the time, the Norwegian was reported to be on £85,000 per week, much to the shock of team-mate Kieran Tierney.

"Happy to be back, bro?" Tierney, who has since left North London, was overheard asking Odegaard on Amazon Prime's 'All or Nothing: Arsenal' documentary. "I heard what wages you were getting, so I thought, 'f****** hell!'"

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The Gunners have improved their squad significantly since the 2021/22 campaign. Odegaard was named the new club captain after his first full season and inked a fresh bumper contract in 2023.

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Spotrac reports that the Arsenal skipper's wages have almost tripled to £240,000 per week. However, this is only the joint-fifth-highest salary across the current squad.

Arsenal's highest earner is Kai Havertz. The German forward was expected to be a key player under Mikel Arteta following his high-profile arrival from Chelsea.

Havertz completed a £65million move to Arsenal in 2023. The 26-year-old was rewarded with a £280,000 weekly salary, which equates to £14.56m in annual earnings

The closest player to Havertz on Arsenal's wage bill is fellow striker Gabriel Jesus. The only member of the squad with experience of winning a Premier League title, the Brazilian was recruited to lead the line in 2022 as Arteta began to build a title-challenging side.

The former Manchester City star is paid £265,000 per week, which is marginally lower than Havertz's. The striker's deal runs until 2027. The third-highest-paid Arsenal player, according to Spotrac, is William Saliba. The defender has been pivotal since breaking into the team in the 2022/23 campaign.

Saliba, who spent three seasons out on loan after signing from Saint-Etienne, earns £250,000 per week. This is significantly more than his regular centre-back partner, Gabriel Magalhaes, whose £150,000 weekly salary places him 11th in the Arsenal squad.

Declan Rice completes Arsenal's top five highest-paid players. The club's record signing earns the same amount as Gunners captain Odegaard, with a weekly wage of £240,000.

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres falls short of the top five, having agreed a £200,000 weekly salary as part of his move from Sporting CP. Bukayo Saka sits seventh on the wage bill with weekly earnings of £195,000.

Elsewhere, first team regular Jurrien Timber sits 17th on the list with his £90,000 weekly wage, which he agreed to upon joining Arsenal in 2023. Summer recruit Martin Zubimendi receives £75,000 per week, putting him two places below Timber on the wage bill.

1. Kai Havertz - £280,000 per week (£14.56m annually)

2. Gabriel Jesus - £265,000 per week (£13.78m annually)

3. William Saliba - £250,000 per week (£13m annually)

4. Martin Odegaard - £240,000 per week (£12.48m annually)

5. Declan Rice - £240,000 per week (£12.48m annually)

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