On Rogers, Berta, and the balance between trust and fear in the transfer market.
It’s mind-boggling how fast things can change. A month ago, life was jubilant. The world was a carnival, with the appetizing aroma of freshly battered and fried victory wafting into our nostrils, Louis Dunford’s “The Angel” ringing out from the speakers and the people around you alike, and red and white confetti gently raining down unendingly from the heavens.
Arsenal had become Premier League champions. They had been a kick away from ascending to the European summit as well. And they showed no signs that this was the end. The future was so bright that sunglasses were required to properly view it.
That all feels like the distant past now, a hope-inspiring story we tell the younglings as we all sit around a modest fire in a barren wasteland, with the post-apocalyptic remains of civilization just over the horizon. The happiness has evaporated. It has been abruptly replaced by the pressure of winning again. And so far, this summer has given little indication that such the Gunners are in line to accomplish such a feat.
First, there are the injuries. William Saliba’s back gave out in a World Cup semifinal and the Frenchman looks set for a significant absence. Thomas Tuchel, who does not seem to have recovered his head since losing it around the 56th minute of England’s semifinal against Argentina, saw fit to keep a supposedly ailing Bukayo Saka out of that contest entirely before deploying him for just over 97 minutes in the third-place match against France (Saka did score a hat trick, so we’re leaving with something, I guess). Declan Rice, who has dealt with neural pains in his hamstrings and forced himself to play through illness for his country, has finished the 2025/26 season with more minutes played than Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, and Manchester United. Jurriën Timber, who missed the last several weeks of the club season and had to withdraw from the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, remains in the wind aside from an appearance on Max Dowman’s Instagram.
Then there is Arsenal’s activity in the transfer market. At the time of writing, the Gunners have gotten two signings over the line: Illan Meslier, who has been confirmed by the club, and Christos Tzolis, who has yet to receive official confirmation but is reported to be a done deal as well. The latter of course arrives as a replacement for Leandro Trossard, who has joined Beşiktaş for €20 million including add-ons.
But that’s really all there is to report at this time. Arsenal have not made any further acquisitions outside of a supposed third-string goalkeeper and a “finisher” for the left wing position. Nor have they completed any more sales; Gabriel Jesus remains on the wage bill while the futures of Ben White, Christian Nørgaard, Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli, and others remain unclear. Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira are part of the group that have begun preseason training at the Sobha Realty Center. The end of July draws near — preseason will start soon, and the Premier League campaign will begin anew in just over a month’s time. The lack of movement certainly doesn’t reflect the demands of Mikel Arteta from his post-match presser in Budapest, his challenge to the club to be “very, very ambitious, very fast, and very smart.”
Firstly, we are talking about a team that are now reigning champions of England and the European runners-up. This is a squad far more difficult to improve than certain clubs’ that have finished further down the table. The pool of players to choose from is far more shallow. Decisions must be made with absolute certainty.
Additionally, there are of course mitigating factors around this particular summer. The big obvious one is the World Cup, which started on June 11, has only just concluded. Several players Arsenal are linked to made it quite far in the tournament and now are on much-deserved holidays or about to embark on one. Others who may very well be in consideration are sorting through contract discussions or other housekeeping matters.
However, this hasn’t prevented other clubs from completing massive signings. Manchester City acquired Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported £116 million. Spurs signed both Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali for just shy of £200 million. Manchester United have landed Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans for much more reasonable prices.
Of course, the transfer that Arsenal fans are still smarting from currently is that of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea. The Englishman had long been linked to the Gunners, with the reporting indicating that he had committed to a move to north London and that an agreement with Aston Villa was only a matter of time. I, like so many others, found myself mistakenly gaming our next season in my head with him in Arsenal’s squad. However, on Saturday David Ornstein broke that Chelsea had stolen in, paid £117 million (all guaranteed and noticeably just a million pounds more than short-lived English record transfer Anderson), and booked a medical for Rogers.
The apparent facts of Rogers’ shock move to the Blyes don’t look great for sporting director Andrea Berta. According to HandOfArsenal, Berta was informed by intermediaries that during May and June an offer amounting to between £80 million and £100 million would be enough to secure the player from Villa. But Berta seemingly spent too long assessing other options for the left wing position, and the Anderson signing effectively reset the market rate. In response, Villa’s valuation of Rogers jumped to a number Arsenal were not willing to match before Chelsea swooped in.
My feelings regarding losing out on Rogers are mixed. On one hand, I have questions about Berta’s inability to complete a timely deal that was clearly a top priority for Mikel Arteta. If Rogers was the number one option, why didn’t the sporting director move forward with getting that signing over the line while no other club was seriously in for him?
On the other hand, David Ornstein has recently stated that Villa had a valuation they stuck to resolutely and that Arsenal just as resolutely refused to meet. According to The Athletic, the Gunners viewed Rogers as being worth no more than £80 million. That kind of spending policy is something that is decided on at the highest levels of the club by not just Berta, but by Stan and Josh Kroenke as well as other members of the board (many of whom have only been appointed quite recently). So, for me, it’s quite possible that not signing Rogers was down to more than just Berta twiddling his thumbs. After all, this is Arsenal — recruitment decisions are never made unilaterally.
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Unfortunately, it is human nature to want someone to blame. And Berta is undoubtedly the most visible figure at the club with regard to recruitment. But I’ve had the privilege of speaking with people who are or have been “in the room”, so to speak. And I’ve taken two lessons from those conversations: they see what is said about them online and in the media by the general public, and that general public very rarely knows the full story until long afterwards.
So I’m going to avoid pinpointing Berta in my criticism. And for now, I think it’s best to withhold most of that criticism. Because in fairness, there remains a clear path toward an optimal, productive, and encouraging summer. The beginning of the 2026/27 season is still over a month away as I write this.
I’m sure some will read that and preach pessimism. The safety of doom and gloom, of emotionally divesting before one can be hurt, beckons enticingly to many like sirens draped across forlorn ocean rocks. Tying oneself to the mast of hope seems foolish to those Gooners. So Berta’s head will be called for, Arteta’s departure will be prophesized, and a top-four scrap will be forecasted, all in January.
Again, it’s crazy to think this Arsenal leadership oversaw a title-winning season just two months ago.
So I’m still willing to trust Berta and company. But I’m also willing to express my concern at this juncture. Because despite my sanguinity, I see the causes for it all the same.
The first has to do with Arsenal’s unyielding dedication to ensuring value in their acquisitions. For the most part, I think it’s an admirable and savvy principle. In a footballing landscape in which unproven teenagers are going for record sums and veterans well past their primes are searching for one last windfall, it is crucial to be discerning about when to splash the cash. It wasn’t so long ago that the Gunners were floundering about in midtable because they hadn’t been responsible with their spending.
But I think the current reality of the market demands a slight rethink. Like I said earlier, there are only so many players out there who improve Arsenal. And if Arteta and his charges wish to retain their Premier League crown and perhaps even go a step further, it is imperative that the club signs enough of those players to elevate their capabilities.
However, such talents will not come cheap. There are no bargains to be had in this current market. And at a certain point, Arsenal will need to decide whether they want more to minimize the risk of buyer’s remorse or to finish the summer with the best team possible.
I understand the reluctance to spend nine figures on a player like their peers have this summer. It’s what makes Arsenal’s record expenditure on Declan Rice such a landmark moment in the club’s history. Now, the man himself stands as a monument to the potential ingenuity of being mindful about when you fire the money cannon.
And I’m not saying that the Gunners absolutely must spend £100 million or more on a single player. I’m not advocating for irresponsible Chelsea-esque lighting of money on fire. But if it comes down to it, if that is the asking price for the only player left who feasibly takes the attack or buildup play to next level, will they pay what it takes? Or will they bring in a cheaper but inferior option and take solace in the fact that they didn’t overspend in a ridiculous window? I’m not sure how satisfied I would be with the latter, especially if it comes at the cost of success. Unfortunately, I think the market rate is what it is right now.
My second qualm centers around Berta’s negotiation strategy. As we all know at this point, the Italian prefers to play the field and keep his options open, assessing different players and being willing to pivot if a deal falls through or if a better one can be struck elsewhere. It’s a good fit for how Arsenal wish to operate in the market.
And generally, it’s an approach that makes sense as well. Transfer windows are very dynamic and fluid affairs. Things can change on a dime; Plans A and B can simultaneously go up in flames, a golden opportunity can arise out of the blue, or you might suddenly have to replace a player you hadn’t planned on replacing. Having multiple plates spinning the way Berta does typically means you’re better placed to respond to those developments.
However, it also does arguably send a message to prospective players that the club aren’t fully committed to them. And part of me wonders if that isn’t a hindrance in trying to attract the top-tier stars required to get the Gunners over that final line. Big-name players want the red carpet rolled out for them. They want to feel, well, wanted.
The Athletic’s reporting indicates that Rogers was unnerved by Arsenal’s lack of haste in completing his signing, as well as numerous links to other players in his position. The publication also claimed that after speaking with Xabi Alonso, the Englishman “was impressed by being pursued so passionately by a figure with such a strong reputation as both a player and manager.” Those factors combined to convince the forward to forego a move to the Gunners.
Some of you made read those last few paragraphs and think,*Arsenal are Premier League champions! If he doesn’t want us, then we don’t want him! Plenty of fish in the sea!*There is another part of me that agrees with that. And ultimately, my feeling is that Arsenal lost out on Rogers because of their collective transfer policy and not because Berta didn’t make him feel special enough.
But I do think it’s something to keep in mind moving forward. Some players, like Meslier and Tzolis, will jump at the chance to play for a big club like Arsenal. Others know they have options that are either prestigious, lucrative, or both. It’s about knowing who you’re dealing with. Would Vinicius Jr. want to sit tight for a month while Arsenal assess other options?
Again, I don’t have all the facts and these last two nitpicks I have could look very foolish in a month’s time. But I figure that they’re worth pointing out right now.
Mu truest concern is really the same one I had all throughout last season, the summer before, and for years prior to that. It is the fear that we don’t do enough or don’t get enough right to achieve our ambitions. We only get so many cracks at this before we have to build it all again. And this is a special group — some of the players in this squad are among the best to ever wear the Arsenal shirt, and we have a generational manager. It might be a long time before the Gunners are this good again.
That means that we find ourselves within a limited window of opportunity. Even now, the uncertainty within all of our rivals’ camps does not preclude the possibility that they figure it out next season. Alonso could lead a Chelsea side not burdened by European football to a title charge. Andoni Iraola could maximize a lackluster Liverpool side and achieve something wildly impressive in his first season there. Enzo Maresca might ensure that City don’t miss a beat as they enter the post-Guardiola era. Arsenal still will likely need to be firing on all cylinders to hold off challengers.
So Berta and the club hierarchy need to do their jobs. They need to offload a multitude of players who have nothing to contribute to the team anymore, so that they may bring in talents who do. Those talents need to truly elevate Arteta’s men to new heights. And they need to be able to do so quickly; again, several key players will likely miss the beginning of the new campaign and whoever starts at left wing will almost certainly be a newcomer. The mandate this summer is trickier than before, and the margin for error is just as low.
However, I still have faith the club can meet the moment. Arsenal’s recruitment has been consistently great and thoughtful throughout Arteta’s tenure. Last summer, we witnessed eight new arrivals and most of them contributed majorly toward a Premier League title. They can do this.
But they have to do it soon. The clock is ticking. Before we know it, the Gunners will be kicking off against Coventry at the Emirates Stadium. It is time to lock in.
Because if they don’t, they will — as Rice said at the parade — almost certainly get locked out.
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