Fresh off a stunning domestic season, you wouldn't bet against Arsenal's raft of high-profile stars going on to have a significant say in this summer's World Cup too.
From an England perspective, there are positions up for grabs under Thomas Tuchel, although there's a spine of the side that remains simply untouchable, be it Jordan Pickford and Harry Kane, or Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Since their tournament debuts at Euro 2020, Rice and Saka have remained integral to everything good about the Three Lions, typically ever-present figures under Tuchel's predecessor, Gareth Southgate.
Saka
They are the cream of the crop for both club and country, setting a benchmark for the type of figures that Mikel Arteta and co need to recruit this summer.
Arsenal already working to seal £100m post-World Cup deal
Attack. Attack. Attack.
Yes, there's one clear priority for the Gunners heading into 2026/27, with Arteta and Andrea Berta keen to kick on from a Premier League title win that was largely built on defensive solidity rather than attacking flair.
Arsenal CEO Richard Garlick, Sporting Director Andrea Berta and Director of Football Operations James King
Latest reports have indicated that the north London side are already exploring a move for Club Brugge's Christos Tzolis, while there is also an expectation that a deal will be wrapped up for Leicester City wonderkid, Jeremy Monga, at some stage.
In terms of more marquee targets, however, Football Transfers journalist Steve Kay has revealed that Berta has already carried out significant groundwork ahead of a move for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers.
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According to Kay, having previously floated the idea of signing Rogers last summer, the Gunners are again in the picture this time around, with talks over a potential fee set to ramp up when the 23-year-old returns from the World Cup.
In the report, it is noted that Villa are currently looking for a figure in the region of £100m, although Berta and Co said to have their own valuation, which is "significantly less" than that asking price.
Why Rogers could be like another Saka and Rice at Arsenal
It was telling that four of Arsenal's high-profile signings of last summer all started on the bench in Budapest, with Arteta opting to overlook Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.
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There's no denying that the expensively-assembled quartet proved vital in bolstering the Gunners' squad depth for 2025/26, but as their omissions against Paris Saint-Germain showcased, have any of them truly raised the level in the starting lineup?
In the case of Rogers, there would surely be no search concerns, with the Englishman's current standing highlighted by the fact that he is currently tussling it out with Jude Bellingham for a starting berth at the World Cup, with Tuchel shunning the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White in favour of the Villa talisman.
Predicted England XI vs Croatia
Position
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Such faith has been richly deserved following another fine campaign for Rogers under Unai Emery, the ex-Middlesbrough man rounding things off with a goal in the convincing Europa League final win over Freiburg.
In all, he racked up 26 goals and assists in all competitions last season, taking his overall Villa tally to 60 goal involvements in his first 125 games.
Morgan-Rogers-England
Like Rice before him, Rogers feels like a surefire success in the making, no matter the price tag, with there so much to like about his overall game.
Indeed, like Rice at West Ham United, he has emerged as something of a talisman at Villa Park despite his relative youth, mirroring his compatriot too with his powerhouse style and almost unstoppable ball-carrying prowess.
A powerful, physical handful, Rogers is so difficult to contain when motoring forward, as seen in the fact that he ranks in the top 10% of midfielders for progressive carriers per 90, as per DataMB.
For context, Rice is similarly adept at surging forward from deep, having ranked in the top 5% for that same metric.
Arsenal-Declan-Rice
Where he also mirrors Saka is in his ability to hurt the opposition in all manner of ways. Show him down the line, and he'll manage to drive into the box to pick out a teammate.
Allow him to cut inside and, as Manchester United found out back in December, he can produce a spectacular, curling effort from range.
Predominantly right-footed, Rogers did score two of his ten league goals with his left foot last season. In Saka's case, two of his six came via his weaker right.
As it is with Saka, it's difficult to know how best to shackle the Halesowen-born star, while it's worth noting just what a creative outlet he is too.
Arsenal-Premier-League-Bukayo-Saka
Last season, for instance, he created 13 'big chances' and averaged 1.3 key passes per game, so often proving the man to unpick a defence for Emery's side.
For comparison, Saka was only just behind after averaging 12 'big chances' from the flanks, albeit while averaging two key passes per game.
Comfortable operating off the left or as a number ten, Rogers would surely raise the level if he were to join Arteta's ranks this summer, with all the ingredients there for him to mirror both Rice and Saka as the standard-bearers at the Emirates.
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