Aston Villa’s opening to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign has been disappointing, with Unai Emery’s men still waiting for their first domestic victory after five fixtures. While progress in European competition offers some relief, their league struggles have left supporters increasingly restless.
Among the concerns is the dip in form of key players. Former England forward Darren Bent has publicly raised questions about the commitment of Morgan Rogers, one of the squad’s standout performers from last season.
Rogers under the spotlight
Rogers was central to Villa’s success in 2024/25, recording eight goals and ten assists as the club advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals. His performances drew attention from Tottenham and Chelsea during the summer, yet Villa rejected any possibility of a sale, stressing his importance to Emery’s long-term plans.
This season, however, the 23-year-old has been unable to reproduce that impact. Across seven matches in all competitions, he has yet to register either a goal or an assist. Bent, speaking on talkSPORT, remarked that the winger no longer shows the same drive: “Watkins has got no confidence, and you can see that. But Morgan Rogers looks like he is not interested.”
Bent suggested that the player may still be dwelling on the transfer links that failed to materialise, adding: “He was linked to some big clubs, and maybe he was thinking ‘oh I wouldn’t mind one of them’ and it hasn’t happened.”
Emery’s dilemma
Rogers is not alone in struggling, with Ollie Watkins also enduring a lean spell in front of goal. Yet the lack of spark from last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year is particularly damaging to Villa’s system.
Emery must now decide whether to persist with the young winger in the hope that his form returns or to make tactical changes that could shake up his frontline. Unless Rogers quickly rediscovers his sharpness and mentality, Villa’s battle to move clear of the relegation zone could become even more challenging.