Arsenal have moved up one place in this year’s Deloitte Money League thanks to massive new commercial deals for the 2014/15 season - and could challenge football's financial superpowers in the future.

The Gunners leapfrogged Chelsea in the latest list from the accountancy firm after 34 per cent growth in commercial revenue due to their £30 million-a-year kit deal with Puma and renewed stadium and shirt sponsorship agreements with Emirates.

Deloitte’s report suggests the Arsenal are in excellent financial health and will be in contention to finish in the Money League top five in the coming years, especially with the new £5.14 billion Premier League television deal starting next season.



Arsenal’s matchday income of £100.4m is the highest of any club in this year’s Money League and accounts for 30 per cent of the club’s total revenue.

Arsenal are also only the second English club to earn more than £100m in each of the three core revenue areas - matchday, commercial and broadcast - in the same season.



The club's last accounts revealed cash reserves of £193m and, with the financial burden of the move to the Emirates Stadium now eased, Arsenal have been able to spend significant transfer fees in recent years on the likes of Mesut Ozil (£42m) and Alexis Sanchez (£35m).

The Gunners also have the fourth highest wage bill in the country at £192m, just £1.3m less than Manchester City, and believe they can now compete for the very best players in the world.