'Fantastic' Rogers leads way for Villa - Emery

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has hailed the impact of Morgan Rogers after the midfielder's outstanding first half of the Premier League season.

Rogers has seven goals and three assists in 17 league appearances, helping propel Emery's side into third place on 36 points - just three behind leaders Arsenal.

"He's a fantastic guy," Emery said. "He loves football - his commitment with the club is fantastic, his attitude every day. He's a leader in the dressing room because he's always positive, he has energy, and then he has skills, of course.

"His versatility is very important and to be positive playing 10 numbers inside, 10 numbers outside, even like a winger, is very, very important for us. Through the mentality he's showing, he can get his best and adding numbers now - goals, assists."

Emery was also asked about Villa's upcoming tests at Chelsea and Arsenal with his side now firmly in the conversation at the top end of the table.

While acknowledging the challenge ahead, the Spaniard struck a balance between realism and ambition, insisting Villa will embrace their position and approach the next fixtures with confidence.

"Everything we did is done," he insisted. "We are in the table with now some points advantage over Chelsea, but they have contended more than us to be in the top five to four to three.

"We started like a team that weren't contenders to be in the top seven, top six, top five, top four, top three. We are realistic, but as well ambitious, and we are not going to refuse anything about how we are in the table, and what we can get in the next week with the challenge against Chelsea.

"Of course, they are favourites. Hopefully, we can perform, we can play part of the game and get our game plan, get in our energy for the next match."

Listen to full commentary of Chelsea v Aston Villa from 17:30 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live