Arsenal are set to step up their pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, as Mikel Arteta looks to freshen up his title-winning squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Gunners may have won the league for the first time in 22 years last season, but the club's hierarchy aren't prepared to sit back and take it easy in the transfer market. With their rivals in a period of transition, the North London club sense they have an opportunity to dominate English football over the coming years.
Rogers is a priority signing for sporting director Andrea Berta, although Villa's hefty £130million asking price could present a stumbling block in the prospective deal. That said, creative negotiations from Berta could see the transfer over the line.
Arsenal are expected to turn towards Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola if they can't land the England international, although given the noise around Rogers, it seems likely that Villa will concede and the Gunners will get their man.
Morgan Rogers Could Wear his Favourite Shirt Number at Arsenal
Morgan Rogers
Whenever a major transfer goes through, fans of the club receiving the player become obsessed with every detail around the signing's arrival. This includes what shirt number the player will wear at their new club, so supporters can envisage them in their team's colours.
If Rogers arrives at Arsenal, there will certainly be fanfare around his move to North London. The creative midfielder has worn the number 27 throughout his time at Villa, while he also wore this number in his stints at Lincoln City and Bournemouth.
This repeated use of 27 isn't a coincidence. Speaking to Sky Sports Premier League last year, the 23-year-old revealed why he is attached to the number.
"I went to Lincoln on loan, and it was the only number that looked remotely okay at the time," he said.
"It wasn't my number, but I was looking at the numbers and thought none of these [suit me]. It was because it had the seven in, [Cristiano] Ronaldo was my idol growing up.
"So, because it had the seven I picked that. I wasn't necessarily sold on it but because then I had a good loan, it kinda stuck with me."
Rogers did indeed enjoy an impressive spell on loan with the Imps, netting six goals and providing two assists across 28 appearances in League One. This earned him a subsequent loan move to Championship side Bournemouth the following season.
"It's always the number I'd pick if I go to a club."
The number 27 has been vacant at Arsenal since Brazilian winger Marquinhos donned it in the 2022/23 season, while the likes of Konstantinos Mavropanos, Gervinho and Emmanuel Eboue have also worn it previously at the Emirates Stadium.
Thus, the Gunners can offer Rogers his preferred shirt number, and this could even be a small factor in convincing him to swap the West Midlands for North London this summer.
Alternative Squad Numbers Available to Morgan Rogers at Arsenal
Morgan RogersCaean Couto (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
While Rogers' comments suggest he's likely to take 27 if he completes a move to Arsenal, he has worn other numbers previously, and he could still be tempted to switch things up at his prospective new club.
After his stint at Bournemouth, Rogers went on loan to Blackpool for a season, and wore the number 25 shirt. The following year, he joined Middlesbrough permanently and wore number ten on Teesside.
While the number ten is held by Eberechi Eze at Arsenal, 25 has been available at the North London club since Mohamed Elneny's exit in 2024.
Alternatively, Rogers could be tempted to opt for a more iconic number. There are currently no starting eleven numbers available in Arteta's squad, although two are expected to spring up over the course of the summer.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Gabriel Jesus is expected to leave, making the number nine shirt available. While this shirt is typically associated with strikers, Rogers could reinvent it at Arsenal as his own iconic look.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli may also be on his way out of North London, and this departure would make the number 11 shirt available. Given Arsenal reportedly consider Rogers as an option on the left wing, and the number 11 is typically worn by left wingers, this selection would make a lot of sense.
Elsewhere, the numbers 15, 17 and 18 are vacant at Arsenal, providing Rogers with a host of potential options if he, for some reason, doesn't go down his trodden 27 path.
Currently available shirt numbers for Rogers at Arsenal: 15, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, and several more above 40.
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