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Arsene Wenger admits he is responsible for Arsenal’s much-maligned ‘socialist’ wage structure.

For the first time, manager Wenger has given a fascinating insight into how Arsenal’s pay system works.

With Arsenal desperately trying to agree a new contract with Theo Walcott, Wenger has ­confirmed that HE decides how much players earn – and ­confessed that the pay scale he advocates can leave the club ­vulnerable.

“We don’t have a big gap ­between what our players earn at Arsenal,” said Wenger. “We are more a socialist model and vulnerable because of that.

“We have something that is ­defendable in front of every single player. We make ­exceptions, but the ­exceptions are maybe not as high as elsewhere.

“We have an amount of money that is dedicated to wages. Within that we try to do things that make sense and are defendable.”

(Image: Clive Mason)

Arsenal’s highest earner is thought to be Lukas Podolski, on about £90,000 a week, but even players towards the bottom of the senior squad pay scale pocket £50,000 a week. In the last published figures by Deloitte, Arsenal had the fifth ­highest wage bill in the Premier League, spending £124million, ahead of rivals Tottenham who shelled out £91m on salaries.

The initial refusal of Wenger to ­improve an £80,000-a-week ­opening contract offer to Walcott stalled ­negotiations. The England star’s ­impressive form has now found Wenger willing to increase his offer.

The Arsenal manager’s wages philosophy has also created ­problems when it comes to selling players, and the ­Gunners will have to part-fund striker Marouane Chamakh’s salary while he is on loan at West Ham. Wenger said: “I’ve believed all my life to pay well people who work for us. If you can afford to do it, you do it. But we have no players on £200,000 a week.”

Wenger, who has an economics degree, is given an overall budget for wages and is then left to distribute it how he sees fit. “As long as our ­business is organised so we do not need any help from anybody... then it is defendable,” said Wenger. “Afterwards, you can always say, ‘Is it enough, is it too much?’ That is a more ­philosophical question.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to test Wigan’s resolve with an £8million move for 22-year-old midfielder James McCarthy.

There is no way Michu will leave' insists Laudrup

(Image: Reuters)

Michu is going nowhere in the January transfer window, according to Swansea manager Michael Laudrup.

The goal-scoring Spanish ace, valued at £30million, was linked with Russian clubs Zenit St Petersburg and Anzhi Makhachkhala last week.

Michu has bagged 14 goals this season and Laudrup said: “There is no way we will lose our top scorer this month. It is absolutely out of the question.

“One reason is because it is so difficult to get someone in now. The second is he is happy and doesn’t want to leave.”