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Arsenal dip into the red despite increased commercial revenues

Premier League football club Arsenal have posted a £3.4m loss in their half year results published today.

Lack of transfer revenues from outgoing players were blamed for the disappointing figures which cover the period up the 30 November last year.

Despite the loss, which contrasts with the the £6.2m profit the club enjoyed in 2014, Arsenal Holdings PLC, the club’s parent company, still saw turnover increase to £158m thanks to cash from the UEFA Champions League broadcasting deal.

Commenting on the results for the six months, the Club’s Chairman, Sir Chips Keswick, said: “This has been an unpredictable Premier League season thus far. What is important is that we are in contention and I am sure we have the resources and ability within the squad to sustain a strong challenge.

“The end of season run-in is going to be an exciting one and I am confident we will be very much at the centre of the action.

“We continue to see robust growth around our commercial revenues and build our support globally through our marketing and media channels.”

Pre-empting any negativity from the numbers, Keswick believes the slight loss attests to the stability of the playing squad and the fact that the club are not in a position where they have to sell their best players.

He added: “The result for the period has been impacted by a reduction in transfer profits but this reflects the overall stability we have within the squad which, in my view, is a positive factor for the Club.”

Arsenal have experienced a flurry of commercial activity this year with a number of international deals, including broadcasting partnerships in China and commercial tie-ups in Indonesia.

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