Only one of them can actually play for us in the Europa League though.
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Iām not convinced it was used in defence, rather more in a descriptive sense. Which is fine, because the notion of having a smaller disparity between your highest and lowest earner is obviously aligned with the tenets of social democracy.
But I think itās more to do with him thinking it was the best way to foster team spirit and deal with the fact that we couldnāt at the time match the mega wages other big teams could offer.
Youāre making out that heās a socialist but he had no problem excluding himself from this policy, so that doesnāt scream principled socialist now does it? It suggests it was a matter of expediency, because he knew that what he earns wasnāt relevant to the team dynamic (in the way that he thought it would be if the teams star player earned 10 times more than a lowly squad member), he took as much as he could get.
We can talk about how someone being born in post war France might reasonably have some socialist or left wing ideals, but thatās pure conjecture if we are honest. All we have to go on is this one use of the word āsocialistā and then his actions, and Iām not buying the idea that he is a socialist at all.
I agree, I think the team spirit concept is certainly true and was a one of the desired effects Wenger wanted from his wage model even if it was a misguided approach but the concept certainly runs against the establish culture here in top level English football (That why I mentioned the Post War France point) Other English teams have never struggled with the dressing room with a normal wage structure in place
When you canāt compete with other clubs with wages you donāt try and remedy that by paying over market to players who arenāt worth such wages in order to ensure everybody in the dressing room feels equal. That strikes me as a man forcing a policy, based on his personal ideals, on the club that wasnāt in our best interest.
I totally agree with this part but, nowhere have said that he is a socialist or a principled one at that, thatās because I pretty sure he isnāt. Iāve always been adamant that heās a humanist first and foremost which happens to encompass strong left wing ideals that are not mutually exclusive to socialism.
It was Wenger who introduced the term Socialist in to this matter, but Iām sure it doesnāt apply to all facets of his life.
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One thing Iāll be clear on, is that like you I do think it was misguided and didnāt work. I wouldnāt want my posts to be misconstrued as a defence of the policy because Iām a social democrat 
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Wenger had no problem making Henry best paid player in PL at the time, and wouldnāt no problem doing so with Ozil & Sanchez.
He only switched to the wage structure to deal with Emirates debt.
There is no principle behind it, rather what the finances dictate at the given phase.
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At what time?
110k per week in 2006.
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Itās bullshit the PEA canāt play in the Europa even if he has played no minutes for Dortmund in the competition.
Iād be surprised if Chelsea werenāt paying someone more than that given RA took over a couple years before.
Yeah but even if he was allowed, weād still have to pick between him and Mkhitaryan to register for EL. Not allowed to have more than 1.
Such stupid rules.
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I donāt know.
But 110k in 2006 was quite a lot, donāt you think? It surely goes against the whole socialist structure Wenger āapparentlyā implemented.
It took up until 2014 when we gave 100+ wages to Theo.
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Just found this
Chelsea players were not earning above 100k before 2007
The Chelsea captain, John Terry, last night became the highest-paid player in Premier League history. Months of negotiations over a new contract concluded with the England captain agreeing a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge worth more than Ā£7m a year. There seems, however, little immediate prospect of his team-mate Frank Lampard following suit.
Terry, who had two years to run on an existing Ā£67,000-a-week deal, will see his weekly wage packet double to nearer Ā£135,000. The 26-year-old has said he hopes to see out his playing career at Stamford Bridge. The salary eclipses those of Ā£121,000-a-week currently enjoyed by the midfielder Michael Ballack and striker Andriy Shevchenko and was agreed yesterday after talks between the club and the defenderās agent.
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Well. At least we canāt rotate players then hehe.
Wasnt David Dein still at the club around that time?
Isnāt his eventual departure symbolic of Wenger gaining greater control over off the pitch matters such as scouting, transfer and contract negotaion?
BATSHUAYI EXIT LIKELY
Michy Batshuayi is likely to leave Chelsea on loan this month, according to Sky sources.
Sevilla want the Belgium international, and thereās the real possibility of a loan swap with West Ham for Andy Carroll.
Get on the case, Dortmund!
I doubt a club like Arsenal would be completely placing all the responsibility on Wenger & Dein.
Wenger took all the heat but surely the financial decisions were mutual.
Board & Wenger decided what was a good approach to go about the phase where we needed to be shrewed about finances.
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Well according to that exact article you posted Shevchenko and Ballack were on 121k a week, and were signed in 2006, so your statement above is a bit off.
But Henry probably got his new deal before Chelsea signed them in the summer so at that point, Henry might have been made the best paid player in the league. Even if he only kept that title for a matter of weeks or months 
Signs 4 year deal then leaves 1 year into it 
I liked this bit from the article
It would not be implausible for Henry to re-assess his position next summer if Arsenal struggle next season, but the club would then be able to demand an appropriate transfer fee.
Ā£16 million didnāt feel appropriate 
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15 year old me was actual devestated he left.
Probably the saddest Iāve ever felt in my life so far 