Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has urged his former club to steer clear of a move for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and instead focus their transfer efforts on signing Athletic Club winger Nico Williams.
The comments come amid ongoing speculation linking Arsenal with both Rogers and Williams as the club assess attacking reinforcements ahead of the summer transfer window. Arsenal are expected to strengthen in wide areas as part of their long-term squad planning under manager Mikel Arteta.
Rogers, who plays for Aston Villa, has been one of the breakout performers in the Premier League this season, drawing attention from several top-six clubs. His versatility across attacking midfield and forward positions has made him an attractive option, with reports suggesting Villa value him at a premium fee following his rapid development.
However, Petit believes Arsenal should instead prioritise a more natural wide attacker, arguing that Williams offers a clearer fit for their tactical structure. The Spanish international Nico Williams, who plays for Athletic Club, has been widely regarded as one of Europe’s most explosive young wingers, known for his pace, direct dribbling and ability to stretch defences.
Speaking in recent media appearances, Petit suggested that Arsenal already possess sufficient depth in central attacking roles and would benefit more from a specialist winger who can consistently create width and one-on-one threat. His stance reflects a broader debate among pundits over whether Arsenal should continue targeting multi-role attackers or prioritise traditional wide forwards.
‘Arsenal were fighting to get him last season,’ the former Gunners midfielder said of Williams via the Sunday Mirror. He’s so powerful in terms of dribbling. This guy will bring such a huge improvement for Arsenal if they can get him.
‘If he can take Arsenal to the next level, it’s money well spent.’
Williams has long been linked with several elite European clubs, with his performances in La Liga and international tournaments significantly increasing his profile. His release clause, reportedly fixed at a high but attainable level for top Premier League sides, has only intensified speculation around a potential move away from Bilbao.
Arsenal’s recruitment team are understood to be evaluating multiple profiles as they prepare for a crucial window, with attacking reinforcement a key priority following a season in which goal distribution and chance creation remained inconsistent at times.
While Rogers is admired internally for his physicality and adaptability, some analysts believe Williams’ profile better complements Arsenal’s existing forward line, particularly in systems that rely on wide isolation and quick transitions.
For now, Arsenal have not indicated a definitive preference between the two targets, and both players are expected to remain under consideration as discussions continue behind the scenes.
As the summer window approaches, the debate highlighted by Petit reflects the broader strategic choices facing Arsenal: whether to invest in versatile domestic talent or pursue specialist attacking width at the highest level of European football.
MORE ARSENAL NEWS AND GOSSIP –
Top Read: Mikel Arteta told £90 million and midfielder can join Arsenal after talks opened!
Most Read: Arsenal excitement builds: French star ‘to thrive’ under Mikel Arteta’ ahead of Emirates move
Must Check Out: Star can join Arsenal for £90M – Arteta told incoming signing best in France – Dutch star sent shock Arsenal message
LOVE ARSENAL? CLICK RIGHT HERE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND GOSSIP
Related
Discover more from IcFootballNews –
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.