Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Morgan Rogers is set to start for the first time against Arsenal for Chelsea, but has plenty of experience starring against the Gunners in the past, in particular Declan Rice.
The Blues are more confident than ever in the past few years of achieving a result at the Emirates due to the exceptional frontline they have put together under Xabi Alonso.
Rogers has already scored and assisted in his first two Premier League games for Chelsea, with Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer contributing two goals themselves too.
Aston Villa FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
When Morgan Rogers embarrassed Arsenal’s Declan Rice in 2024
While the Blues have struggled against the Gunners in recent years, Aston Villa found some success and won two games when Rogers started.
His most impactful display actually came during a 2-0 defeat to them in 2024, although his performance drew immense praise from Jamie Redknapp.
He told Sky Sports at the time that Rogers was ‘unplayable’ and had given Declan Rice a nightmare of a task trying to mark him.
Redknapp said: “Not many players possess, and especially taking into account his size, that amount of skill, that pace and that power. It is so difficult to stop.
“He gave Thomas Partey nightmares today. Declan Rice, he turns inside out about three times in a second, he was unplayable.
“He was absolutely magnificent, sometimes when he picks the ball up and runs it’s like watching Jonah Lomu in his prime, he’s that powerful. Great skill, a lovely footballer.”
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Rice can see what Chelsea are building
Despite Arsenal’s excellent record against Chelsea in recent years, the England international has observed that the games have been far from easy for them.
Rice described the Blues as ‘incredible’ after beating them in the EFL Cup semi-finals last season, as Chelsea missed out on more domestic glory.
Alonso’s side have only gotten stronger since their last meeting with the Gunners, with the hiring of the Spaniard being seen as a real positive too.
They will be relying on the big-name new signings to deliver this time around though, with Rogers the standout who could finally put this tough run of form to an end.