Arsenal post big profits

Arsenal have posted pre-tax profits of £49.5m for the six months to the end of November following the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Sales of Fabregas and Nasri key to financial figures

Arsenal have posted pre-tax profits of £49.5million for the six months to the end of November following the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Former Gunners captain Fabregas rejoined boyhood club Barcelona last summer, while Nasri left the Emirates Stadium to sign for Premier League rivals Manchester City. The Gunners, who lost £6.1million over the same period in 2010, might have made only a small profit but for the controversial departures of Fabregas and Nasri. Arsenal enjoyed an overall profit on player trading of £46.1million, having made a loss of £5.9million the previous year. They made £63million overall in player sales, while there was an investment of £74.7million in new arrivals and contract extensions, the cost of both being spread evenly over the length of an individual's deal. Arsenal's cash reserves also swelled to £115.2million, up from £110.4million, with their turnover from football rising to £113.5million from £97.6million. Chairman Peter Hill-Wood told the club's official website: "We are proud of Arsenal's record and consistency over many seasons and have the foundations in place, at every level of the club, to ensure we remain a force in the seasons ahead."