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Theo Walcott and Ian Wright have admitted Arsenal made a major mistake by failing to sign Chelsea’s new star.

Former Arsenal forwards Theo Walcott and Ian Wright have spoken candidly about their frustration at the club not managing to bring in Morgan Rogers during the recent summer transfer window. The highly rated midfielder eventually completed a big-money move to London rivals Chelsea instead, with the two Gunners icons left feeling their former club should have moved more quickly.

Walcott admits transfer frustration

Walcott said he would have liked Arsenal to sign Rogers before Chelsea did, according to Metro. The Gunners strengthened their squad with Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis, but still missed out on several high-profile attacking targets. Chelsea, managed by Xabi Alonso, then moved decisively to sign Rogers in a huge £117 million deal shortly after the World Cup.

While choosing between Tzolis and Rogers for a combined XI, Walcott made no effort to hide his disappointment over the missed chance. "Tzolis, I like him, but it’s Rogers," Walcott said. "We should have got him, oh well."

Wright left gutted by Chelsea move

Wright was just as disappointed that the midfielder did not end up at the Emirates Stadium. Speaking to Stick to Football, Wright said Mikel Arteta had specifically wanted a game-changing player to add to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz. "I think we did need Rogers," Wright stated. "You say we have got those types of players but that is what Mikel wanted. It is a position where we need that player. Of course Saka is back, Odegaard is back, Havertz is back and playing together, but he wanted that difference-maker. He is the one we were linked with ages ago and he would have loved to have come, I can feel it."

Arteta defends Arsenal transfer strategy

Arsenal also looked at moves for Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez, but both turned down the opportunity to join. Wright suggested that chase may have ended up costing them. "There’s something that’s happened with Arsenal with the way they were going for Vini," Wright added. "If you’re a player and you see a team going for him, you think, 'I thought they were interested in me?'. It is the player the manager wanted. 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."

At the same time, Arteta said Arsenal have no regrets. "The selling of players can come from different aspects as well. It’s not always the same one. That’s part of the responsibility we have at the football club," Arteta explained.

What happens next?

Rogers has already made an encouraging start at Stamford Bridge, recording one goal and one assist in his first two matches. The midfielder will now get an ideal chance to show Arsenal what they missed when Chelsea travel to face Arteta’s side at the Emirates on Sunday.