Unai Emery can exploit Mikel Arteta experiment with ‘exceptional’ Aston Villa star vs Arsenal
Unai Emery will want to outsmart Mikel Arteta tactically when Aston Villa face Arsenal in a title showdown at the Emirates Stadium on December 30.
Aston Villa showed nerves of steel to come from behind to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to keep themselves hot on the heels of Arsenal and Manchester City.
Unai Emery’s men are three points behind the Gunners heading into their mouth-watering clash on Tuesday night, and the Spaniard will be out to prove many wrong.
Richard Keys thinks Villa will fade away in the title race, citing squad depth as their major issue, while one player holds all the keys to their chances.
Morgan Rogers can exploit Arsenal’s right flank
Villa are one of Europe’s in-form teams after recording 11 successive wins in all competitions, and Morgan Rogers is a main reason why they’ve entered the title picture.
Including braces against Leeds, West Ham and Manchester United, the 23-year-old has seven goal involvements in his last seven matches in the top-flight and has established himself as one of the division’s best.
Rogers is capable of winning matches on his own, and when Villa take on Arsenal, his influence will be crucial to recording a league double over Mikel Arteta’s side.
Cutting in from the left flank, the Englishman boasts frightening ball-carrying and strength to outmuscle defenders, and he can potentially give Declan Rice a hard time.
| Morgan Rogers stats 2025/26 |
| 18 appearances |
| 7 goals |
| 3 assists |
| 6 big chances created |
| 73% pass completion |
| 21% goal conversion |
Rice was played out of position at right back in the absence of Jurrien Timber during their 2-1 win over Brighton, and there is a possibility the Dutchman will only make the bench against Villa.
If that is the case, the ‘exceptional’ Rogers will fancy his chances of getting the better of his England teammate and producing a moment of brilliance.
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What Mikel Arteta has said about Rogers
Rogers has been tipped as a Man United target if they sell Bruno Fernandes, but the former Middlesbrough starlet has no plans on exiting Villa Park just yet.
His full focus will be on dismantling Arsenal and sending a statement at Emirates Stadium, with Arteta undoubtedly wary about his talents.
Speaking about Rogers and teammate Amadou Onana in August 2024, the Spaniard said via Birmingham World: “Every time they (Rogers and Onana) play at the moment they have and make the space.
“As soon as you lose the ball and you are counter-pressing, they break that press. They have a lot of legs, they are really powerful (when carrying) the ball between the centre-backs and full-backs.”
In an age where many sides press with significant intensity, having a pressure-reliever in the team such as Rogers, who can turn a perilous defensive situation into a promising attack, is like gold dust.
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