Carlton Cole believes Morgan Rogers' transfer from Aston Villa to Chelsea has significantly disrupted Arsenal's transfer plans. The former England forward claims Mikel Arteta's side was close to signing the 24-year-old.
Ultimately, Chelsea swooped in to secure Rogers for a staggering £117 million. Cole opined that the Premier League champions still require reinforcements for their left flank following this setback:
Arsenal's squad depth is impressive. They signed Bruno Guimaraes—a fantastic player—but I still think they need another addition before the window closes.
I believe they need an attacking player for the left wing. They are eyeing up Bradley Barcola—they need someone of that calibre.
From what I understand, Rogers was initially set to join Arsenal. The deal was nearly sealed, but then Chelsea intervened, and Rogers opted for them. This has seriously complicated Arsenal's plans.
According to the former striker, Barcola could prefer a move to Arsenal over Liverpool, although the steep price tag presents a significant hurdle:
I’ve heard that Barcola would rather move to Arsenal than Liverpool. But Arsenal are hesitant to meet the asking price. Meanwhile, Liverpool would also be a great place for his development.
Despite the need for another signing, Cole considers Arsenal the favourites for this season's Premier League title. He placed Chelsea in the second spot in his predictions, noting the absence of European commitments and Xabi Alonso's work:
Chelsea have a very strong squad, and not playing in Europe provides them with a huge advantage. Xabi Alonso knows how to win—he proved that at Bayer. I’m putting Arsenal at first, Chelsea at second, and Manchester City at third.
