EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal players in line for bonuses of up to £500,000 each

Arsenal's players will be in line for huge lump sum bonuses worth up to £500,000 each if they can get the club back into the Champions League for the first time since 2017.

Mikel Arteta's side are in pole position to finish fourth in the Premier League after overtaking Manchester United to climb into the coveted final place that secures a spot in Europe's top competition. Arsenal are one point ahead of United but crucially have three games in hand.

With Champions League qualification worth at least £50million in prize money and broadcasting revenue to clubs a substantial percentage of that will end up being paid out to the players who have earned it if Arsenal can end their five-year absence.

A one-off bonus would be due to the squad for finishing in one of the top-four spots which is then divided among Arteta's squad. The amount each player receives is calculated on a pro-rata basis with the top figure around the £500,000 mark.

Some players are also understood to have clauses separately written into their deals which will see their weekly wages automatically increase for the campaign during which the club are playing in the Champions League group stages.

Reaching next season's Champions League will present Arsenal's players with a further opportunity to increase their income when they can add progress-related bonuses to their schedule agreed ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

As one of the biggest competitions, the figures they can negotiate based on how far they go will be of higher value.

Meanwhile a return to Europe's top table will help accelerate Arteta's efforts to restore Arsenal to former glories.

It will improve Arsenal's hopes of keeping young star Bukayo Saka as they aim to secure the England winger on a new