Buildup, news and discussion before Sunday’s games This weekend’s fixtures | Mail us with your thoughts Jacob Steinberg on Chelsea landing a player that Arsenal were interested in. Chelsea were decisive. They were tracking Rogers before he left Middlesbrough for Villa in February 2024. Joe Shields, one of Chelsea’s five sporting directors, worked with Rogers at Manchester City’s academy. The signing was not done on a whim. Chelsea have a good relationship with Villa’s owners and moved quickly after opening club-to-club talks a day after Rogers played in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina. The fee was £117m and Chelsea did not struggle to convince Rogers. Alonso wooed him and the deal was confirmed five days after negotiations began. At Aston Villa on Monday night, Arteta introduced two of Spain’s World Cup winning squad – Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi – from the bench. Plus the marquee summer signing, Bruno Guimarães. Plus Eberechi Eze. Plus another high-profile new boy, Ezri Konsa. Arsenal’s strength in depth is really something. Continue reading...