Arsenal are ready to offer Mikel Arteta a lucrative new contract as the Spaniard continues to shape the club’s future both on and off the pitch.
The Gunners believe they are leading the race to sign Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, with sources revealing to TEAMtalk the three ways in which Mikel Arteta is playing a pivotal role in convincing the England international that the Emirates is the right destination for the next stage of his career.
Having seen their ambitious pursuit of Julian Alvarez stall — with the Atlético Madrid forward prioritising a move to Barcelona — Arsenal have swiftly made Rogers their primary attacking target. Confidence is growing in North London that they can fend off interest from Chelsea and Manchester City to land one of the Premier League’s brightest young talents.
Arteta’s Personal Touch
We have previously revealed that Rogers has been impressed by Arteta’s pitch to him over a potential move. The Gunners boss has made it clear he sees the 23-year-old as the ideal addition to strengthen the left side of their attack — a position he has been eager to upgrade for some time.
Last season, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli shared responsibilities on the left flank, while summer 2025 arrival Eberechi Eze was also deployed there on occasions. However, Arteta is looking for a player capable of making the position his own, and he has identified Rogers as the outstanding candidate to fill that void.
Sources have told us that the Arsenal boss has been heavily involved in the pursuit, making it clear to both the club’s hierarchy and the player’s representatives just how highly he rates the 23-year-old. That personal endorsement carries significant weight.
Financial Firepower
Arsenal have already informed Rogers’ camp that they are prepared to make a huge financial commitment to secure his signature. TEAMtalk understands the Gunners are not afraid to pay in excess of £100million if that is what it takes to persuade Aston Villa to sell.
This war chest reflects Arteta’s conviction that Rogers is the missing piece. The club’s willingness to break their transfer record underlines the importance of the deal in the manager’s eyes.
Player Buy-In and Competitive Edge
The third key factor is Rogers’ own response. Sources indicate that the player has been hugely impressed by Arteta’s vision for his role at Arsenal and the personal effort the Spaniard has made to convince him that he should move to the Emirates. The Gunners believe those conversations have given them a significant advantage.
Chelsea remain huge admirers of Rogers and have held positive discussions with his representatives, while Manchester City have explored the possibility of bringing the former academy graduate back to the Etihad. Yet Arsenal are receiving increasingly positive signals from the player’s camp, with a growing belief that Rogers sees North London as the destination that best suits his ambitions.
Villa’s Stance
Before Arsenal can ramp up their efforts, they must navigate Unai Emery’s firm position. The Villa manager has been clear about his desire to keep Rogers, describing him as “one of the most important players in our project.”
Speaking recently about the links to Arsenal, Emery is reported to have said: “Morgan is one of the most important players in our project. When a player performs at his level, it is normal that big clubs like Arsenal are watching. But for us, there is no surprise – we see his quality every day.
“He has improved massively, he is hungry, humble, and still has so much room to grow. My message to Morgan is simple: continue here, continue developing, and the future will come naturally. Aston Villa is ambitious, and we want our best players to help us achieve even bigger objectives. We are building something special, and Morgan is a key part of that vision.”
Despite Villa’s reluctance to lose one of their prized assets — and their valuation of Rogers at a club-record fee — Arsenal remain optimistic that the deal can be achieved as they continue to build their case behind the scenes.
With Arteta fully behind the move and the club ready to back him financially, Morgan Rogers has emerged as the player the Arsenal manager believes can take their attack to the next level. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the Gunners can turn their interest into a major summer signing.