Aston Villa suffered their first defeat of the new season as Unai Emery’s side lost 2-0 to Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday.
Having beat West Ham United on the opening day of the Premier League season last weekend and done the double over Arsenal last season, Aston Villa fans were full of optimism going into their first home game of the campaign.
Unai Emery named an unchanged side from the one that beat West Ham 2-1, but was forced into an early change as Matty Cash went off injured to be replaced by Kosta Nedeljkovic after just 16 minutes.
That did not seem to disrupt Villa too much, who put in a strong display and were unfortunate to come away with nothing against an underwhelming Arsenal side.
Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey scored the Gunners’ goals, with the strikes coming ten minutes apart in the 67th and 77th-minute, but it was a Villa player who caught the eye despite defeat.
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Jamie Redknapp blown away by Morgan Rogers against Arsenal
Whilst Villa fans will have been left disappointed with the result, the performance of Morgan Rogers will have had them off their feet at Villa Park.
The 22-year-old has improved at an incredible rate since joining Emery’s side from Middlesbrough in January and looks set to continue that this season.
Rogers – who is typically a winger – has started the campaign playing the second striker role vacated by the sale of Moussa Diaby this summer and put in a display against Arsenal that deserved more.
Jamie Redknapp was on punditry duty for Sky Sports where he picked Rogers out for special praise after the match.
Speaking over a clip of Rogers’ highlights from the game, Redknapp said: “There’s a lot of things I love about him. I enjoyed his performances when he got into the team last year.
“But he does this so well. Not many players possess – especially when you look at him, his size – that amount of skill and that pace and that power and it’s so difficult to stop.
“He gave Thomas Partey nightmares today. Thomas Partey couldn’t live with him. Declan Rice he turns inside-out about three times in a second.
“He just was unplayable, he was absolutely magnificent.”
Rogers already making Aston Villa fans forget about Moussa Diaby
Villa broke their transfer record to sign Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the 2023/24 season but sold him on this summer for £60 million to turn a quick profit.
Emery would have been happy to keep the Frenchman, but the opportunity to capitalise on interest from Saudi Arabia to turn a quick profit was deemed too enticing for the club.
Emery converted Diaby from a winger to a second striker in his solitary season at Villa Park; a role he enjoyed as he scored ten goals and provided nine assists in all competitions.
With the 25-year-old having left, Villa have been expected to sign another player who can operate in the second striker role with Joao Felix one player considered before his move to Chelsea was confirmed.
Raheem Sterling’s potential availability looks to have piqued Emery’s interest, but the solution could already be in his ranks judging by Rogers’ performance against Arsenal.
At the rate he is progressing, it would come as no surprise if we are talking about a season in which senior England recognition comes alongside making his mark in the Champions League for Rogers.
