£80m star now expects to sign for Arsenal

Last summer, Arsenal spent a shedload, nearly £250m on improving the side and making it ready to challenge and win major honours. Well, it’s safe to say it was a success.

While the jury was out on players like Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke for much of the season, Mikel Arteta’s men won the Premier League and that is all that matters.

They did, however, fall short in the Champions League. The task for Andrea Berta now is to help create a team that can reign surprme on the continent as well as domestically.

That is easier said than done, sure, but the Gunners do not need much to topple Europe’s heavyweights. They were penalty kicks away from winning Europe’s biggest prize for the first time in their history.

So, who could be the players to take them to that next level?

£80m star is in Arsenal’s sights ahead of a big summer

For once, Arsenal look set to sway away from spending big on a new defender. Instead, they look well poised to bolster the midfield and strengthen the attack.

If there were two areas where problems arose in 2025/26, it was in both of those positions. Martin Zubimendi played more minutes than all but two players, David Raya and Declan Rice, a factor that contributed to his waning performances in the back end of the season.

Likewise, there were problems on the flank where Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli look like they are past their best.

In a bid to improve their wide areas, they have looked at Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis. The player is open to signing and there is a feeling that if the Gunners push for that one, a deal will get wrapped up pretty swiftly.

Their pursuit of Morgan Rogers looks a bit trickier. Aston Villa do not want to sell and it could take something between £80m-£100m to get Unai Emery’s side to sell up.

That said, Arsenal are trying and are said to have opened club-to-club talks over a summer move.

In a boost to Arteta and Berta, the player really wants to join the club. According to Chelsea insider Alex Goldberg, who has reported on the Blues’ interest in the player, there is a belief that Rogers ‘expects’ to be playing for Arsenal next season.

If that is the case, then do not expect personal terms to be an issue whatsoever when it comes to discussing a contract.

How Rogers compares to Eze and Odegaard

The general feeling is that if Rogers signs for Arsenal this summer he would be utilised as a winger over on the left flank.

That is certainly the area where the biggest improvement is required. Gabriel Martinelli scored 11 goals in all competitions but only found the net once in the Premier League. It was an important goal at least, bagging against Manchester City.

As for Trossard, he played a vital part in the latter stages of the title win, scoring that famous winner away at West Ham. However, before bagging that goal he was without one in his last 25 outings in all competitions.

The arrival of Rogers, therefore, is much needed. That said, first and foremost, this is an attacking midfielder by trade. Sure, he’s made a brilliant impact for Villa on the left but he could actually be more than just an upgrade on Trossard and Martinelli. He could also replace both Martin Odegaard and Eze.

Last season, the England international netted 14 goals in all competitions, also providing 12 assists. Nine of those goal involvements came in 17 games on the left but 16 game in 33 appearances through the middle.

Versatile and ready to make an impact wherever he plays, it explains why Arteta is really interested in the forward. His ability to feature in a multitude of roles is a huge boon.

Yet, while the wide areas have been a problem, you could also argue that Arsenal have lacked a game-changer just behind the striker too.

Eze was phenomenal in spurts during his debut campaign with the Gunners. Those five goals against Spurs will live long in the memory but outside of those two games, he only scored another five times all season. As for Odegaard, he has been really off the pace when it comes to goalscoring. The skipper found the net just once in the whole of 2025/26.

On that front, Rogers has the potential to be a big upgrade. He is certainly not as creative but he is magical between the lines and has a running power and ball carrying ability that Eze and Odegaard lack.

Analysing the data, it becomes apparent that while Rogers is actually trumped in a few metrics, he seems to combine the best traits of both players here.

He’s a far better carrier of the ball than Eze and Odegaard. He’s more accurate with his shots and converts more chances but he sits between the two for chance creation and overall progressive actions.

The 23-year-old also sits between the two for goals scored per 90 minutes and duels won. What this all means is that he’s actually rather more complete than the two no.10s Arteta already has at his disposal. There isn’t really one area where you can outline as a weakness.

Combine that with the fact that he barely misses a game – Rogers has been absent for just two league matches since the beginning of 2024/25 – and you have a really robust figure who should walk into the team ahead of Eze and Odegaard.