Arsenal Close In on Morgan Rogers Deal as Gunners Plot Summer Assault

Fresh off the back of a trophy-laden campaign that saw them claim their first Premier League crown in 22 years, Arsenal are wasting little time in plotting their summer recruitment drive. Mikel Arteta's side are zeroing in on Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers as their marquee attacking addition.

Reports suggest the Gunners have already secured an agreement in principle with Rogers, who is contracted to join until 2031. The next hurdle involves thrashing out terms with Villa, with negotiations expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

The 2025/26 season proved a resounding success for Arsenal, culminating in Premier League glory and a Champions League final appearance—though Paris Saint-Germain's penalty shootout heroics denied them European silverware. That success has bolstered the club's financial firepower considerably, affording them scope to make significant investments this summer.

Rogers has emerged as Arteta's primary target in the attacking department. The Villa winger delivered an impressive return of 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions last term, catching the eye of several top clubs across Europe. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has indicated the move represents a "very concrete possibility," with positive momentum on both sides.

"Arsenal are working hard on a deal to sign Rogers from Aston Villa. Conversations and negotiations are ongoing," Romano explained. "On the player's side, things are progressing very well. The next stage concerns negotiations between the clubs."

The mood music surrounding the move appears decidedly upbeat. Rogers is understood to be genuinely attracted to the project at the Emirates, particularly given Arsenal's domestic dominance and recent European pedigree. For their part, the Gunners are prepared to make a substantial financial commitment to land their target.

However, not everyone is convinced the pursuit represents sound business. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has urged caution, questioning whether Rogers merits such investment when Martin Odegaard remains on the books. "If Odegaard plays to his best ability, and Morgan Rogers does, there can't be that much between them," Merson told The Metro. "It's only because Odegaard's not playing as well at the moment, but he's still young and a top, top player."

The summer window may yet see departures at the Emirates, with Gabriel Martinelli, Odegaard himself, and Leandro Trossard all subject to transfer speculation. Arsenal's priority, though, appears firmly fixed on bringing Rogers through the door as they look to build on their impressive campaign.