Morgan Rogers is of big interest to Arsenal and football.london got the lowdown from the Aston Villa perpsective on a potential move
Arsenal are interested in signing Morgan Rogers this summer from Aston Villa, and the club are expected to pursue a move for the player football.london understands. Mikel Arteta views the England midfielder as a potential game-changer for his side’s attacking options, but any more will be expensive.
Sporting director Andrea Berta is leading the club’s transfer market strategy, which has hopes of adding far more than just the England midfielder. However, much of the discussion around Rogers has centred on what role he might play and whether there remain concerns from some of his inconsistencies during his time in the West Midlands.
As a result, football.london caught up with Aston Villa Club Writer for Birmingham Live, John Townley, and put several questions to the reporter to get the lay of the land, insight on Rogers’ role and the state of a potential transfer move.
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Arsenal are keen on Rogers, particularly to play on their left flank – effectively as a counterpart to Bukayo Saka. Having watched him closely at Villa, what do you make of this idea? How has he been used there under Unai Emery, and does it make sense?
Rogers’ versatility is one of his biggest strengths. He is most effective off the left or centrally in a number 10 role, but he can also operate on the right or even as a striker. That flexibility is key for Emery, allowing Villa to keep opponents guessing and to adjust their approach during games.
He’s not a traditional wide player like Saka, so if he plays from the left, the left-back would need to provide width and hug the touchline to create space for him. Rogers carries the ball well and is a powerful runner, although this is less evident when teams sit deep. He’s also effective in tight spaces, but can drift in and out of games.
It was suggested that Rogers’ season tailed off in the second half of the campaign until its climax. Is that a fair assessment, or is there more nuance?
That inconsistency is part of the package with Rogers. He can win a game out of nothing, but can also flatter to deceive – either by becoming detached from the game or lacking quality in key moments. That’s not unusual for creative players. Over a full season, though, he will make his mark with goals and assists.
One important factor is his workload: he played 3,285 league minutes, the most of any Villa player. He looked tired towards the end of the campaign, although his poorest spell actually came at the start of the season. At one point, a minority of fans sarcastically cheered him for completing a pass during Villa’s first win against Bologna. Emery kept faith with him through that difficult period, and Rogers went on to enjoy an excellent middle third of the season.
In terms of his overall style, what kind of player is Rogers? What are his strengths, and where does he need to improve – especially if he were to work under Arteta, where defensive contribution is crucial?
He’s a physically powerful player, but also intelligent in how he uses that strength. Having worked under Pep Guardiola and now Emery, he has developed strong tactical awareness, which has helped him adapt quickly. He’s capable of scoring spectacular goals, as he showed against Tottenham, West Ham, and Manchester United last season.
He has all the attributes, but consistency remains the key issue. Over time, you expect goals, moments of quality, and availability – but not necessarily every week. If he could deliver that consistently, he would be among the best players in the league.
While talk of a move is still in its early stages, what would you expect financially? Are Villa under any pressure to sell in order to reinvest?
Rogers would be open to a move, given that Arsenal could offer higher wages and a chance to compete for the league title. Put simply, if Arsenal meet Villa’s valuation, a deal would likely happen. However, Villa are not under immediate pressure to sell; they have other assets which they could move if needed.
That said, financial constraints mean they cannot ignore substantial offers – particularly those exceeding £100million. Based on the market and comparable transfers, Villa would demand a significant fee. Rogers has also signed two new contracts in the past two years and is tied to the club until 2031.
