MORGAN ROGERS is one of Arsenal’s top transfer targets this summer – and it is easy to see why.
The Aston Villa forward ticks just about every one of Mikel Arteta’s boxes when it comes to a new signing.
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Arsenal want to sign England star Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa this summer Credit: PA
Athletic, versatile and proven in the Premier League, the Gunners would love to add Rogers to their ranks.
A deal will be hard to do, though, because Villa view Rogers as a key player and they are back in the Champions League next season.
But Arsenal are expected to firm up their interest over the summer as they get ready to defend their Premier League crown.
Signing a new left winger is a priority during the current transfer window and Rogers can shine out there.
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But, crucially, the England star is comfortable playing other positions – which is a quality Arteta values highly.
Rogers told the BBC earlier this year: “I think I’m a bit different to everyone that plays in my position.
“I like to see myself as someone that can do different things on the pitch.
“When asked, I can be a No10, I can be a winger, I can be a striker. I think I can be anything.
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“If you ask me to do it and you give me the instructions to do it, I think I’ve got the capabilities to offer something different to maybe what other people don’t have, which is a nice thing.”
Rogers’ versatility plays into Arteta’s desire for the Arsenal attack to be “unpredictable” in how they set up.
Too often last season, the Gunners looked short of ideas going forward and Rogers would offer a spark – wherever he plays.
Last season, he ranked fourth in the Premier League for open-play assists, an area where Arsenal struggled.
The fact Rogers is proven in the top-flight adds to his attractiveness and Arteta has favoured such signings during his time at Arsenal.
The Gunners boss is also big on players’ fitness records and there is even a sign in Arsenal’s treatment room at the training ground that reads: “Your best ability is your availability.”
Rogers is a ‘minutes monster’ when it comes to this.
Last season, he chalked up 3,285 minutes in the Prem. That is more than any Arsenal outfield player managed, even marathon man Declan Rice.
Rogers scored 14 goals last season to help Aston Villa win the Europa League Credit: Getty
Rogers works hard off the ball and rivals Arsenal’s Declan Rice when it comes to minutes played Credit: Getty
Rogers is an elite athlete and it is fitting that one of his heroes growing up was Cristiano Ronaldo.
Just like the Portugal star, Rogers is a powerful and pacy forward – but he combines that with a brilliant work ethic.
Arteta famously demands his player work exceptionally hard off the ball.
Indeed, just search on Google for ‘Arteta when I lose a duel’ and you’ll see him explode during Amazon’s fly-on-the-wall documentary from the 2021-22 season.
Well, the Spaniard won’t worry about doing that with Rogers.
In the Prem last season, the Villa forward won possession 139 times – and Rice was the only Arsenal player to beat that tally.
When it came to ground duels – one of Arteta’s favourite stats to measure – Rogers won 132 in the top-flight last season. Bukayo Saka, with 145, was the only Arsenal player to better that.
Interestingly, Rogers’ attacking numbers match up similarly to Saka’s and help explain Arsenal’s pursuit of him.
No player has featured more for Arsenal since Arteta was appointed, so why wouldn’t the Gunners boss want a similar profile of player on the other flank?
Saka created 46 chances from open play in the Prem last season, with Rogers just five off that.
The pair were also tied third for ball carries that end with a goal, and only Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland bettered them in that area.
Rogers ability to drive with the ball is what makes him stand out from others.
Arsenal want to bolster their left flank and Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard could leave Credit: Getty
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Yaya Toure was among those he admired growing up and the fact that the Ivorian could use his “running power” to open teams up.
Such a quality would be a real weapon for Arsenal and, again, Rogers matches up well to Saka in this department.
Saka carried the ball 4,765metres in the Prem last season, which was the second most of any Arsenal player. Rogers beat that tally by just under 200m.
For years, the Gunners attack has been lopsided to the right side – but perhaps Rogers could be the man to finally change that.
