Arsenal players could earn bonuses of up to £500,000 EACH if they beat Southampton

Arsenal's players could be set to earn bonuses of up to £500,000 each if they beat Southampton in the Premier League on Friday night.

Arsenal host the Saints at the Emirates and will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points, with title rivals Manchester City in FA Cup action this weekend.

Mikel Arteta's side are desperate to get back to winning ways after consecutive draws against Liverpool and West Ham, results which have allowed City to make up ground in the title race.

Pep Guardiola's side have played one game less than the Gunners, and will have two in hand after this weekend – with City taking on Sheffield United in their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Arsenal cannot afford any slip-ups against Southampton, with their next game coming against City at the Etihad on Wednesday.

If Arsenal beat Southampton, they are guaranteed a top-four finish this season and a place in the Champions League for the first time since 2017.

Arsenal squad in line for huge bonus?

Qualification for European football's most prestigious club tournament is worth at least £50m in prize money and broadcasting revenue, and a percentage of that could end up being paid out to Arsenal's players.

Last season, it was reported that Arsenal's first-team squad were promised large bonuses of up to £500,000 per player if they secured qualification for the Champions League.

The Daily Mail claimed that a lump sum was to be paid to Arteta's squad for finishing in one of the top-four spots, which would then be divided among the players.

The amount each player receives would be calculated on a pro-rata basis with the top figure around the £500,000 mark.

Arsenal eventually missed out on a top-four finish, coming fifth after a remarkable collapse in the closing stages of last season.

But presuming the agreement is still in place, Arsenal's players now look certain to earn that bonus this season.

Whether it will come with a win against Southampton remains to be seen.