Rogers scores in 77 seconds but Arsenal fans mock his £117m Chelsea move

Morgan Rogers scored against Arsenal inside 77 seconds at the Emirates on Sunday, yet it was the home supporters who had the final word as Chelsea fell to a 2-1 defeat — their first loss under manager Xabi Alonso.

Rogers, 23, joined Chelsea from Aston Villa this summer for £117 million, making him the most expensive British player in history. Arsenal had been heavily interested but refused to enter a bidding war, leaving the England playmaker to move to Stamford Bridge instead. When Rogers was substituted late in the second half, the Emirates crowd greeted his departure with a chant of “you should have signed for a big club.”

The goal was Rogers’ second in as many Premier League appearances, having also scored on his debut against Fulham a fortnight earlier. Despite the early breakthrough, Chelsea could not hold on, and Arsenal — one of only two sides to collect nine points from nine this season — extended their perfect start.

The match was not without controversy involving Rogers. He clashed with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice after appearing to be tripped off the ball in the second half, squaring up to his England teammate before ultimately being booked himself.

Arsenal’s decision to walk away from the Rogers deal was part of a broader summer in which the club failed to land a marquee attacking signing. They were also strongly linked with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a period of uncertainty over his future at the Bernabéu, only for the Brazilian to sign a new contract and remain in Madrid. Julian Alvarez was another name on their radar; the Argentina forward made clear his desire to leave Atlético Madrid, but a move to north London never materialised.

For Chelsea, the defeat ends a flawless opening run under Alonso, while Arsenal’s clinical summer pragmatism — and their fans’ sharp wit — appears, for now, to be paying dividends.