Emile Heskey exclusive: 'Morgan Rogers is ready to join Arsenal - but Aston Villa must not sell'

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Evening Standard

·9. Juni 2026

Emile Heskey exclusive: 'Morgan Rogers is ready to join Arsenal - but Aston Villa must not sell'

Gunners hold interest in England forward but ex-Villan hopes his former club can keep him

Emile Heskey believes Morgan Rogers is ready to make the step up should Premier League champions Arsenal sign the Aston Villa midfielder this summer.

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It has been reported that Arsenal are lining up a move for Rogers, who is set to play a starring role for England at the World Cup after guiding Villa to Europa League victory and a top-four finish this season.

Arsenal are looking to build on a historic season, which saw them claim their first Premier League title in 22 years and then fall dramatically short of winning the Champions League on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain.

Asked about Rogers’s potential move to the Emirates, Heskey said he had no doubt the 23-year-old would relish the opportunity but admitted Villa have to do all they can to try and keep hold of the precocious talent.

On the move? Morgan Rogers

“He's definitely ready for that step up. Villa's in a difficult position where they have to sell players on to balance the books,” the former Villa hit-man exclusively told Standard Sport.

“But look, I think for Villa, they've got to try and keep players like that. You can't keep selling.

“I was at Villa when Ashley Young left, Gareth Barry left, James Milner left. Players like Stewart Downing left. They are really trying to build on top of that and have a go. So it's tough for them.”

Rogers will be joined in England’s World Cup camp by fellow Villa team-mates Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins.

Under the microscope: Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins

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Konsa is one of Tuchel’s preferred options at centre-back, but Watkins, on the other hand, has had to fight his way back into contention after he was left out of England’s squad ahead of the March internationals.

Watkins’s form towards the backend of the season gave Tuchel little option but to select him as understudy to Harry Kane, and Heskey believes it is a role the 30-year-old will thrive in.

“You've got to be ready for that [to make an impact off the bench],” Heskey continued.

“He has shown that before [scoring a 90th-minute winner in the Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands]. He brings something different that defenders don't like. So he brings you in, you're running down the side, and they don't like turning.

“So he's got to be ready, and he's got to be aware of what he's coming into and be ready for that. Because he's going to play a massive role.”