Arsenal’s lack of technical ability in Sunday’s loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final was incredibly worrying.
As Mikel Merino noted just a few months after his arrival, the Gunners had assembled a squad of basketball players, and although their quality maintained for much of the season, their lack of ball safety was exposed in the 2-0 defeat at Wembley.
In fact, in the second half, Arsenal were unable to complete a progressive pass that advanced the ball more than 10 yards inside the opponents’ half until the 71st minute.
why? Well, Kepa Arrizabalaga’s passing range was clearly not as strong as David Raya’s, but they were also missing both Ebelesi Eze and Martin Odegaard due to injury.
The Norwegian has missed the majority of the season due to fitness issues, while Eze is likely to be out for an extended period with a groin problem.
So how will Arsenal improve the technical quality of their squad in the short and long term? It is clear that they will need to address that issue in the transfer market as we head into the summer.
Who could Arsenal sign this summer?
Arsenal’s team is undoubtedly one of the best in European football, but believe it or not, they could be even better. On the left flank, Mikel Arteta is shouting about the growth of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.
Antoine Semenho would have been an option before signing for Manchester City, and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo would likely have been in the plans barring an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
They have reportedly been interested in Milan’s Rafael Leao before, but rumors linking them with Nico Williams’ swoop at Athletic Club never seem to go away.
But it wouldn’t be surprising if they turned to the Premier League for a big-money move this summer. Anthony Gordon and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rodgers are being talked about.
The richest contract in Arsenal’s history
The Gunners have spent generously in recent years.
Football Insider reported this week that Arsenal are one of a number of teams interested in the English player, who also holds offers from Manchester United and Chelsea.
United are said to be willing to pay a big fee for the 23-year-old, with the Red Devils and Liam Rosenija’s side looking to further their interest in the forward this summer.
However, Arsenal and other suitors would have to pay a ridiculous amount of money to sign Rodgers. The report notes that a bid of £100m is likely to be required before an offer is accepted.
Comparison of Morgan Rogers and Eze and Odegaard
If Arsenal could pick an English player to sign from the Premier League, Rodgers would likely be near the top of the list.
why? The former Manchester City man has developed into one of the most exciting young footballers in the entire division since trading for Villa from Middlesbrough.
Under Unai Emery he has become one of the most consistent players in the country and there is a very real possibility that he will start ahead of Jude Bellingham for the Three Lions at this summer’s World Cup.
Rodgers’ production dropped slightly in 2025/26, with 10 goals and 7 assists in 41 games, but he had an incredible season last season, eventually winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
He scored 14 goals and recorded 16 assists. To put these numbers into context, no Arsenal player, not even Bukayo Saka, contributed more goals in the entire 2024/25 season.
This is significantly higher than Odegaard, who had six goals and 12 assists. It is also better than Eze achieved in his final season at Crystal Palace, when he found the back of the net 14 times and provided 11 assists in all competitions.
But what really sets Rodgers apart from the players already at Arsenal? Well, he is certainly a better goalscorer than Odegaard and has the Eze gene of being able to create something out of nothing. He regularly shoots on goal and can also outrun players with great skill. He is a maverick and Arteta needs more of that.
Rodgers vs Eze: Premier League stats | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | Rogers (24/25) | Eze (25/26) |
shot | 1.0 | 1.8 |
shot accuracy | 59% | 53% |
the goal | 0.3 | 0.4 |
conversion rate | 23.53% | 20% |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.5 | 0.8 |
Pass accuracy | 75% | 84% |
Take-up completed | 1.5 | 0.8 |
won a duel | 5.0 | 4.7 |
Comparing Rodgers’ excellent season to Eze’s season in an Arsenal shirt, some similarities emerge. They find the back of the net with similar regularity every 90 minutes, but it is in the chance creation and take-on departments that Villa’s superstars are more impressive.
Arsenal looked to invest more in signing quick-start players like Eze and Madueke last summer, and Rodgers is the obvious choice.
At just 23 years old, he is a player with the rest of his career ahead of him. He may not be worth as much as £100m, but he will be one of the best players in the league for years to come.
Another advantage is that he can play on the wing, just like Eze. Rodgers could very easily play behind Victor Gokeres, but there is also a real possibility that he could play on the left side of the attack instead of Martinelli or Trossard.
Arsenal have ventured into the Premier League market several times since Arteta joined the club, and they have rarely failed. David Raya and Declan Rice in particular are proof of that. Rodgers would be a great pickup.
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