Arsenal will be among the biggest beneficiaries from yet another huge upswing in the money that UEFA distributes among Champions League participants.
Mikel Arteta’s side wheezed to a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid’s raucous Metropolitano Stadium last night. Their 57th match of the season, the highest of any side in Europe, was a tale of three penalties: two given, one overturned in contentious circumstances.
But even without the spot-kick that could have followed Eberechi Eze and David Hancko’s engagement in the area, Arsenal remain slim favourites ahead of next Wednesday’s semi-final second leg at the Emirates.
Unlike Atletico, the Gunners are also juggling a title race alongside their Champions League campaign. The Premier League’s top two places are separated by three points, a game in hand and a single goal’s difference in Manchester City’s favour ahead of the weekend.
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As far as Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke is concerned, however, whatever happens between now and the end of the season will not move the needle significantly in terms of revenue.
The difference between 1st and 2nd in the Premier League is negligible, with only around £3m in prize money on the line. Yes, there might be one or two bonuses from sponsors and a retail boom, while reaching the Champions League final would be worth at least another £15m. But the real cliff edge for elite clubs like Arsenal with huge wage bills and operating expenses is really qualification itself – and that was sewn up weeks ago.
Whether Arsenal’s season ends with a historic double or equally historic collapse, the club knows they are due another enormous European payday in 2026-27 – particularly given the latest news from UEFA HQ.
Arsenal to benefit as UEFA primed to distribute record £4.3bn next season
All told, Arsenal will probably bank north of £150m in prize money and matchday revenue if they win the Champions League in Budapest on 30 May.
However, next season’s champions could trouser even more as Bloomberg now report that UEFA has secured a 40 per cent increase from newly-struck deals across 19 different TV markets in Europe and the Americas, which will see European football’s governing body hit the €5bn revenue mark.
In sterling, that’s about £4.3bn at today’s exchange rates. Besides a relatively small solidarity payment to non-participating clubs, all of that cash will be distributed among the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League qualifiers. The lion’s share goes to the Champions League – about 75 per cent in 2025-26.
For Arsenal, who benefit from a distribution system that favours clubs in lucrative TV markets and those with strong five and 10-year coefficients, that means a bigger windfall is on the horizon next season.
Many of the concessions secured by the European Football Clubs (nee European Club Association) on behalf of the likes of Arsenal are seen as being traced back to the European Super League and the leverage that a mooted breakaway competition affords the biggest and best clubs.
The new 36-team format came not only with more matches and more revenue opportunities but also a financial distribution system which means that the Gunners will be aiming for £100m in revenue as a baseline in the Champions League going forward.
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