Arsenal will be watching Michael Olise at the World Cup thinking what if. If you were not aware, the winger spent a very short period of time with the Gunners academy before heading to Chelsea.
He was a young boy at the time and no one could have predicted what he would go on to achieve.
Like current Arsenal man Eberechi Eze, Olise required an education in the EFL before he got his chance in the Premier League with Crystal Palace.
Now, he’s in contention to win the Ballon d’Or after a remarkable season with Bayern Munich. He’s dazzling ever so brightly in North America too. No player has recorded more assists (5) than the Frenchman during the tournament.
Clubs the world over will be asking themselves, how can we get our hands on our own version of Olise? Well, Mikel Arteta and Co think they have found someone capable of starring in a similar way.
Arsenal making progress on deal to sign £130m star
The biggest priority for Andrea Berta this summer is to bring a new forward or two to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal require a lot more quality in the final third and a bid to bring that to north London, several new faces have been looked at. Bradley Barcola is one of the names on their shortlist and they are very much interested in prising him away from PSG.
While the Champions League winners are not too keen on losing him, they may have no other choice. After all, they are planning to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig which could free them up to sell Barcola. That said, they are seeking a price tag in the region of £103m to £116m. Yeah, he won’t come cheap.
Speaking of expensive moves, after Elliot Anderson joined Manchester City for £116m, Aston Villa are now demanding as much as £130m for Morgan Rogers.
It’s safe to say that if there is no room for negotation on that fee, they will look elsewhere. Still, according to Fabrizio Romano, Berta has made strong progress over a deal when speaking to the player’s camp.
Taking to YouTube, he said: “The number one option for Arsenal remains Morgan Rogers. Aston Villa want to put a price around £130m to let him leave this summer.”
Romano continued: “Villa are aware of Arsenal interest and aware of interest from other clubs including Chelsea. However, Arsenal have made very good progress on the player side for quite some time. So, Arsenal keep pushing for Rogers.”
Why Rogers could become Arsenal’s answer to Olise
Since leaving Crystal Palace, Olise has become one of the best talents around. After linking up with him on countless occasions at Bayern Munich, Harry Kane described him as “the best winger in the world.”
Compared to positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks among the top 1% for progressive actions, forward passes expected threat and open play expected goals. He is also among the best 2% for non-penalty goals, shots and progressive carries.
Expected Threat (xT) is a metric that quantifies how much a player’s actions (like a pass or carry) increase their team’s probability of scoring.
He is an elite talent with his staggering tally of 22 goals and 31 assists in 2025/26 proving as much. While Olise has played on the right flank for Bayern, it is through the middle where he has dazzled so brightly for France at the World Cup.
How on earth do you fit Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Olise into the same team? Well, quite easily if you are Dider Deschamps. With Mbappe spearheading the attack, Dembele and Barcola have played either side of Olise who has operated in the 10.
From that role he has been magical, registering five assists. He is the top creator of goals at the tournament so far and this is where the comparison to Rogers begins to emerge.
Now, the French superstar is certainly the better talent but there are plenty of similarities here, not least that they both enjoyed stints in the Football League. It was with Lincoln City and Middlesbrough that Rogers caught the eye before getting his big break with Aston Villa.
|
Rogers vs Odegaard: 2025/26 PL stats |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90 mins) |
Rogers |
Odegaard |
|
Goals |
0.3 |
0.1 |
|
Shots |
1.6 |
1.2 |
|
Shot accuracy |
55% |
47% |
|
Conversion rate |
11.9% |
4.55% |
|
Chances created |
1.3 |
2.6 |
|
Duels won |
4.4 |
2.7 |
|
Progressive actions |
6.19 |
7.03 |
|
Progressive carries |
2.55 |
1.91 |
|
Progressive passes |
3.64 |
5.12 |
Like Olise, the Villa man has been a regular provider of goals and assists. In 2024/25, he registered 14 goals and 16 assists. A year later, a return of 14 goals and 12 assists was posted.
While Rogers is more of an attacking midfielder than a winger, when they play in those pockets behind the striker, there are some key similarities, notably in their ability to carry the ball and pick a pass. Their first thought is always about how they can get the ball forward. They are such powerful carriers in possession, virtually impossible to stop in full flight.
Last term, the England international ranked among the top 14% of attacking midfielders in Europe for progressive passes and top 16% for expected threat. Forward thinking is the order of the day.
Olise is one of the best in the world right now and it must be stated that Rogers is behind for overall quality. Yet, in a better side, there is a chance the 23-year-old could explode much in the same way the former Palace man has done after moving to greener pastures.
Why Arsenal could pivot to £116m winger instead of signing Rogers
Morgan Rogers has become one of Arsenal’s leading targets this summer.