Arsenal’s historic season reaches its peak today as Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions prepare to face PSG in the Champions League final at the Puskas Arena.
Standing between Arsenal and a remarkable domestic and European double are the current holders PSG, managed by Luis Enrique in what promises to be a fascinating tactical contest.
The Gunners’ formidable backline has been central to their 22-year wait for the Premier League title finally coming to an end this season.
Regardless of the outcome in Budapest, Arsenal face a busy summer transfer window with several players expected to arrive and depart the club.
Reports this week suggest Arsenal are preparing to intensify their pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, with manager Arteta keen to bring him to north London.
Villa are expected to demand a minimum of £80million for Rogers, who has established himself as one of the club’s standout performers in recent seasons.
Rogers himself provided Arsenal with encouragement this week, reflecting on a memorable moment against the Gunners that shaped his belief in his own Premier League quality.
“Probably the Arsenal game at the start of last season was the big one for me,” Rogers told The Athletic ahead of Villa’s Europa League victory over Freiburg.
“I was playing against some of the best players in the world and Arsenal were competing for the title. They were players I watched on television when I was in the Championship or in League One.”
“Being able to match them toe-to-toe, physically, with and without the ball, I just got that feeling, ‘Yeah, I can do this.’ I had been at Villa for six months and I did OK when I first came into the team, but you need that one moment; that one feeling on the pitch of when you know you can compete at that level.”
“The step up is actually a big jump, and it can take a while. But that was the game where I felt like I deserved to be here.”
On the outgoings front, Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a move for defender Piero Hincapie, who has only just joined Arsenal permanently following a £45million purchase option triggered in his loan deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
The Ecuadorian defender is set to sign a five-year contract at the Emirates Stadium, but Barcelona sporting director Deco is said to be considering testing Arsenal’s resolve with a formal approach.
Barcelona have already shown their financial muscle this summer through the £69million signing of Anthony Gordon, as they seek to add a left-sided centre-back to their squad.
