LONDON (UK) – Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, said on Thursday that Premier League clubs have a duty to protect lower clubs in the English football pyramid. This comes a day after top-flight clubs voted against Project Big Picture.
The plan, which was proposed by the American owners of Liverpool and Manchester United, called for the six biggest clubs of the Premier League as well as three long-term members to have “special voting rights” placing them in command of the world’s most commercially successful league.
The proposal was hailed by many Football League (EFL) clubs as it promised a 250 million pounds ($322.80 million) rescue fund. Arteta said that whatever be the merits and demerits of the proposal, lower league clubs deserve to be protected.
“I think we have to protect the lower leagues as well, this is our obligation,” Arteta said ahead of his squad’s trip to his former club Manchester City on Saturday.
“We want to produce grassroots and opportunities for everybody in this industry. I think it’s fair to assess the situation and find the best possible way to achieve that. This is our responsibility as well.”
He said that unity was essential in any decisions regarding a restructuring of the Premier League.
“I think that’s a massive strength so as much as we can, we can maintain that unity and sustain our way of doing things,” Arteta said. “I think that’s very valuable and the image that we project to the outside world is really, really strong.
“I hope that we can maintain that.”