Arsenal are six points clear at the top of the Premier League table and will look to continue their charge when they take on Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Mikel Arteta has built what appears to be an unstoppable side, with stars like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus at the centre of their title push.
The Athletic has disclosed that the Arsenal pair are among the Premier League's top 10 highest taxpayers, contributing massive sums to the Treasury.
Erling Haaland leads the way with nearly £17million paid in tax, while Liverpool's Mohamed Salah sits second with £14.5m contributed.
Jesus and Havertz sit in ninth and tenth place respectively, with the duo collectively contributing £15.7m in tax. Jesus pays marginally more at £7.9m whilst Havertz pays roughly £100,000 less.
A notable inclusion on the list is England international Raheem Sterling, who was pocketing £325,000 per week at Chelsea. It emerged last week that the former Liverpool winger had terminated his contract with the Blues by mutual consent.
Havertz, who netted the winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final, came on as a late substitute against his former club in the Carabao Cup earlier this week and went on to score a dramatic 97th-minute winner.
Arteta said after the match: "Super. I think not only me. I think everybody who knows Kai a little bit feels genuinely happy for him in a special way, because he deserves the best.
"The way he works, the way he treats people, the way he behaves every single day. And today was a special moment for him. And I hope that he enjoyed it, because he fully deserves that."Jesus has been at Arsenal for more than four years since signing from Manchester City and earns £265,000 per week, which is why he pays so much tax.
The Brazilian has played a significant role in Arsenal's recent resurgence. Despite Viktor Gyokeres's arrival, the forward remains a vital component of Arteta's system.
Take last week's clash against Leeds United, for instance, where Jesus came off the bench to slot home the fourth and decisive goal, putting the result beyond doubt.
Despite starting as a substitute, he wasted no time in making his mark. It also extended a remarkable record – in the 64 Premier League matches he has scored in, he has never suffered defeat.
