Arsenal move towards signing £100m star in full swing

You can’t do the same thing again, can you? Arsenal were lifted from the Premier League last month, ending a 22-year title drought, but Mikel Arteta’s title aspirations are far from satisfied.

The Premier League champions suffered a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, but they shouldn’t let that detract from what was a great season.

Declan Rice stood grimacing as he watched PSG lift the European trophy. You could say Rice knows Arsenal will be back. It’s not over yet.

It’s been a great year for the Gunners, but now it’s time for Arsenal to cement their place at the top of the food chain by further strengthening Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal named favorites to win Premier League star

Arsenal celebrated late into the night, but Arteta won’t want to forget that feeling anytime soon and will indeed want to get it back. A deal is needed to keep the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United at bay.

The North Londoner has been happily married to technical director Andrea Berta so far, but he’s not perfect either, with the likes of Victor Gokeres and Noni Madueke leaving much to be desired in attack.

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal could have to compete with Chelsea and Manchester City for Morgan Rodgers, who is open to leaving Aston Villa this summer.

The player may be keen on a move to north London, but his employers are sure to face an uphill battle, especially after winning the silver medal and securing a ticket to the Champions League. Rogers’ price was therefore £100m.

Rodgers, 23, is one of the Premier League’s best attacking midfielders and has a unique skillset that makes him ideal for Arteta’s Arsenal system. He will be expected to balance smooth offensive play with aggressive defense off the ball, and he could indeed emerge as the new Aaron Ramsey in that regard.

Why Rodgers could be Arsenal’s new Ramsey

Welsh wizard. Ramsey’s Arsenal career may have been marred by injury, but he still made his mark during his 11-year spell at the club, scoring 64 goals and providing 60 assists in 369 games. He won the FA Cup three times in four years.

Ramsey, now 35 and retired, was a powerful and dynamic midfielder in his day. Combatant and cultured on the ball, focused on getting forward and making things happen in the final third.

Will Rodgers be able to pull a similar punch at the Emirates? He is a flashy attacker who excels at breaking low blocks and forcing opponents into dangerous areas, but he is also a solid defender who attacks well with tackles and interceptions.

Rodgers, who helped Aston Villa win the Europa League, is firmly establishing himself as one of the most exciting attacking midfielders on the market and is someone Arsenal would greatly benefit from having in their squad.

There is no doubt that Rodgers, hailed by journalist Graham Bailey for his “world-class” quality on the ball, is the real deal and, unlike players like Martin Odegaard or Ebelesi Eze, he is someone who can provide Arsenal with a counterpoint. Additionally, he can also play on the left wing if needed.

Is this the Ramsey-like thing missing from Arteta’s system? Rodgers will undoubtedly give Arsenal even more dimension in front of goal, flitting from box to box in a manner not too dissimilar to the Welsh star in his prime.

Rodgers may have established himself as “one of the best players in the Premier League”, according to pundit Jamie Carragher, but he still aspires to play for the best of the best, and he will achieve that goal at the Emirates.