Vinicius Jr remains with Real Madrid after signing a new contract, ruling him out of a move to the Emirates.
Julian Alvarez also appears unlikely to join Arsenal as Atletico Madrid continue to push back against attempts to finalize a deal.
Morgan Rogers ultimately moved to Chelsea after extensive links to Arsenal, with reports confirming the movement even as Arsenal contended for his signature. According to broadcaster David Ornstein, Rogers was notably advanced in discussions with Arsenal, to the point where Mikel Arteta had personally spoken with the player.
Ornstein explained that Arsenal “wanted him” and that the process had progressed impressively. While the talks were substantial, the deal never materialized for Arsenal, and Rogers eventually opted for Chelsea. The Chelsea interest had remained despite Arsenal’s perceived momentum, and the door had never been entirely closed. Ornstein noted that Xabi Alonso saw Rogers as a fit for his system at Chelsea.
Arteta typically secures targets through clear, ongoing dialogue, but in this instance Rogers chose a different path, joining Chelsea rather than Arsenal. Whether that decision proves beneficial for Rogers remains to be seen, but from an external viewpoint, the move raises questions about the balance of opportunity and progression for a player coming off a season where the team finished behind the previous champions.
