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Arsenal now weighing up move for £100m "machine"; he'd be Gyokeres' dream number 10 - opinion

It's all happening at Arsenal at the moment.

After a traditionally slow start to the transfer window, the Gunners have really come to life in recent weeks.

In addition to welcoming Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga, the board appears to be progressing in their pursuit of Chelsea's Noni Madueke, Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, and perhaps most exciting of all, Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal Gyokeres

The Swede could be a transformational signing for the North Londoners, and in yet more exciting news, the club are also being linked with a Premier League star who could be his dream ten.

Arsenal target dream ten for Gyokeres

For quite some time this summer, it looked like RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko was going to be the striker Arsenal signed.

However, late last week, it was widely reported that the North Londoners had switched their focus to Gyokeres.

Since then, the Swede has reportedly agreed to personal terms, and the North Londoners have been in talks with Sporting CP, with reports suggesting the final fee could be around £70m.

Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their first goal

It feels like a matter of when and not if the Gunners secure the 27-year-old's services, and now it looks like they are looking for further reinforcements, including someone who'd likely be a dream number ten for the striker: Morgan Rogers.

Yes, according to a recent report from The Athletic's David Ornstein, as relayed by Caught Offside, Arsenal are interested in the Aston Villa star.

The report does not mention the cost to the Gunners of acquiring the Englishman, but based on stories from earlier this summer, the fee required to secure his release from Villa Park could be as much as £100m.

It would be an expensive transfer to get over the line, but Rogers has more than proven his worth over the last year or so, and he'd be a dream ten for Gyokeres.

Why Gyokeres would love Rogers

While Gyokeres is an incredibly talented forward, he's fundamentally at his best when he's in and around the penalty area, not dropping deep to collect the ball.

Gyokeres 2024-25 season in numbers (timeless) (1)

We can see as much from his heatmap last season, and therefore, to get the most out of him, he needs a mobile and dangerous ten behind him.

The good news is that Rogers certainly fits that bill, and then some.

Morgan-Rogers-Aston-Villa

For example, FBref ranked him in the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for through balls and in the top 15% in the Champions League for successful take-ons per 90.

On top of that, his output for the Claret and Blue last season was spectacular, especially when you take into account that he is still just 22 years old.

Rogers' 24/25

Appearances

Minutes

Goals

Assists

Goal Involvements per Match

Minutes per Goal Involvement

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In 54 appearances, totalling 4496 minutes, the midfield "machine," as dubbed by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell, scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists.

In other words, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 155.03 minutes.

So, if he was able to do that at Villa Park, just imagine what his numbers could look like playing at the Emirates behind the Sporting star, who scored 54 goals and provided 13 assists in 53 games last season.

Ultimately, Gyokeres is a lean, mean, goal-scoring machine, and he'll likely continue to be so at Arsenal next season.

Arsenal-Morgan-Rogers

However, if Arteta wants to help ensure he's as dangerous as possible, then he should push the club to sign Rogers as well.

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