Xabi Alonso has backed Morgan Rogers to be a cornerstone of his Chelsea project for years to come, as the playmaker prepares to face Arsenal this weekend—the very club that let him slip through their fingers.

Chelsea splashed out a staggering £117 million to sign Rogers from Aston Villa following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign in which the England international racked up 10 goals and seven assists in the Premier League. The 24-year-old has hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge, scoring in the Blues’ 3-2 win over Fulham before providing an assist in a thrilling 4-3 victory against Brighton.

Ahead of Sunday’s trip to the Emirates—which Alonso described as his biggest test as Chelsea manager so far—the Spaniard expressed his confidence in the club’s record signing. “Talking about the squad planning, and making big decisions, the decision to get Morgan was a big one,” Alonso said. “He will be a key player for the next six-seven years. His chemistry with the whole team is great, with his striker partners, it’s fantastic and it gives us a lot of hope for the future. He looks really happy, and that’s important”.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright, however, is less than pleased with how the transfer window unfolded for his former club. Speaking on Stick to Football, Wright voiced his frustration that Arsenal failed to land Rogers despite the manager’s clear desire for a difference-maker in attack.

“It’s not a disastrous window but if I’m Mikel, I wouldn’t be happy with how this window has gone simply because we’ve gone another window where we have not got that forward,” Wright said. “Mikel has talked about getting players to take us to that level… That is the player Mikel wanted. They chased Vini until the end of the earth and left Morgan Rogers dangling”.

Wright suggested Arsenal’s pursuit of other targets may have cost them the England international. “He [Rogers] is the one we were linked with ages ago and he would have loved to have come, I can feel it,” Wright added. “Chelsea thought, well if you’re not going to pay it, we’ll pay it. I’m gutted, I would have loved him to come”.