Morgan Rogers Opens Up on Declan Rice Argument After London Derby

Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers has played down his heated exchange with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, insisting there is no bad blood between the two players.

The pair were involved in a tense moment during the London derby, with emotions running high as both players battled to help their respective teams get the better of the contest.

Rogers admitted that the atmosphere played a part in the confrontation, particularly with the pressure coming from the supporters inside the stadium.

Speaking after the game, Rogers explained that his argument with Rice was simply a case of two competitive players wanting to win.

“That’s just competitors competing and wanting to win,” Rogers said.

“It’s a London derby, I’m getting absolutely dog’s abuse from the fans, and all the emotions come into play in that moment. But Dec and I are fine.”

Rogers also revealed that the two players spoke after the match and quickly put the incident behind them.

“We spoke about it after the game, and we’re completely fine,” he added.

The Villa star believes moments like this are part of football, particularly when players are determined to give everything for their respective clubs.

“It’s just one of those things in football. We both want to win, and that’s a good thing,” Rogers said.

He also suggested that the incident showed the competitive nature of the players involved, with friendships having to take a back seat once the game gets underway.

“It shows that we can put friendships aside and focus on doing whatever it takes for our clubs. Sometimes tempers flare, but it’s all good.”

Rogers’ comments should put an end to any speculation of a serious disagreement between the pair. Despite the heated exchange during the game, both players appear to have moved on from the incident.

For Rogers, the important thing was competing for Villa, while Rice was equally determined to help Arsenal. Once the final whistle went, however, the rivalry was left on the pitch.

The incident is another reminder of how quickly emotions can boil over in a fiercely contested game, even between players who know and respect each other away from football.