Could Arsenal add another Aston Villa star to their squad after snubbing Watkins?

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·31 juillet 2025

Could Arsenal add another Aston Villa star to their squad after snubbing Watkins?

Arsenal have long held an interest in players from Aston Villa and continue to monitor several of the club’s top talents. Their admiration for Villa’s squad was evident in January when they submitted a bid for Ollie Watkins. However, the offer was turned down, with Villa unwilling to lose the striker after recently parting ways with Jhon Durán and maintaining strong financial standing at the time.

Watkins was crucial to Villa’s push for Champions League qualification, and the club opted to retain him during that decisive phase of the season. In hindsight, they may now regret not capitalising on Arsenal’s interest, particularly as they are reportedly open to his departure this summer.

Vidéos OneFootball

Arsenal Shifts Its Focus from Watkins to Other Villa Stars

Arsenal’s attacking line has since been reinforced with the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres, making the need for another striker less pressing. Nevertheless, this does not shield Aston Villa from further interest, as the Gunners remain keen on another of their rising stars, Morgan Rogers.

Rogers has enjoyed an impressive spell under Unai Emery, emerging as a standout performer with versatility and creativity in the final third. Arsenal have reportedly been tracking him for several months and continue to view him as a potential addition to their attacking options.

According to Football London, the Gunners have not ended their pursuit of the former Manchester City youth player, and he remains a genuine target ahead of the new campaign.

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Arsenal Weighing Attacking Options

While the Gunners have strengthened their squad with a marquee centre-forward, there is still a desire to add further depth and creativity in wide or attacking midfield roles. Rogers fits the profile Arsenal are seeking, but he is not the only name under consideration.

The club are also reportedly interested in Eberechi Eze, and it remains to be seen which player they will prioritise. Both offer flair, technical skill and attacking intelligence, and either would be a valuable addition. As the transfer window progresses, Arsenal may soon decide whether Rogers or Eze is the better fit for their evolving squad.

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