Top five salaries at Arsenal as player in disbelief at Martin Odegaard's massive wage

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Arsenal have built one of the best squads in the Premier League, with several stars receiving big salaries

Tom Victor and Jake Bayliss

18:00, 02 Feb 2026

As the transfer window draws to a close, Arsenal face questions over whether the current squad can end the club's long wait for a Premier League title. Mikel Arteta has guided his side to three consecutive second-place finishes but another near-miss would feel particularly painful given the substantial summer outlay and blistering start to the season.

Transfer fees aren't the only area where Arsenal have loosened the purse strings. Players challenging for league titles naturally command salaries to reflect their ambitions and the Gunners have begun meeting those demands - with the wage bill steadily rising throughout Arteta's reign.

Among the early statement signings under the Spanish manager was Martin Odegaard, who made the permanent switch from Real Madrid after an impressive loan spell. The Norwegian was reportedly earning £85,000 per week at the time, a figure that left team-mate Kieran Tierney visibly stunned.

"Happy to be back, bro?" Tierney, who has since departed North London, was caught 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 strengthened their squad considerably since the 2021/22 campaign. Odegaard was handed the captain's armband after his first full season and signed a lucrative new deal in 2023.

According to Spotrac, the Arsenal captain's earnings have nearly tripled to £240,000 per week. Despite this substantial increase, he ranks outside the squad's top three earners.

Topping Arsenal's wage structure is Kai Havertz. The German forward arrived from Chelsea in a £65million transfer in 2023 and was expected to be a crucial player in Arteta's side.

The 26-year-old commands a weekly salary of £280,000, translating to annual earnings of £14.56m, making him the club's most well-paid player.

Close behind Havertz sits fellow forward Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian, who brings Premier League-winning pedigree from his time at Manchester City, arrived in 2022 as the Gunners assembled a title-challenging squad.

Jesus earns 265,000 per week, marginally less than Havertz's salary, and his contract runs until 2027. Third on Arsenal's wage bill is William Saliba.

The defender has proved instrumental since establishing himself during the 2022/23 season. Saliba now pockets £250,000 per week, which is considerably more than his centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes' £150,000 weekly wage, placing him 11th within the squad.

Rounding out Arsenal's top five earners is Declan Rice. The club's record signing matches captain Odegaard's salary at £240,000 per week.

New arrival Viktor Gyokeres misses out on the top five earners, pocketing £200,000 weekly following his switch from Sporting CP. Bukayo Saka ranks seventh among the squad's salaries, receiving £195,000 each week.

Meanwhile, regular starter Jurrien Timber finds himself 17th on the pay scale with his £90,000 per week deal, secured when he arrived at Arsenal in 2023. Summer addition Martin Zubimendi earns £75,000 per week, positioning him just below Timber on the wage bill.