Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers told he must adapt to Premier League's tough new world

Rogers has been on the end of some rough treatment in recent weeks but Emery does not think the forward is the only player being targeted, believing referees are now allowing tackles which previously would have been fouls go unpunished.

The manager, who recently joked goalkeepers would soon need to start wearing boxing gloves, such is the physicality now seen at corners, says the only solution is for his team to adjust.

Asked about the challenges Rogers has received, Emery said: “It is not now. It is all the season. The strikers, wingers and players in the attacking third are getting more contact with the defence.

“They are getting sometimes hard or strong contact and especially the attacking players.

“Morgan Rogers is a fighter and likes to fight with the defenders. But we need to adapt quick and update how football is changing.

“It is changing a lot. More contact and less fouls. We played two weeks ago against Arsenal and a lot of duels but the contact was so, so strong. 

“We need to work a lot in the gym and update everything to how the Premier League is progressing.”

Emery made reference to Arsenal’s Mikel Merino avoiding a second yellow card for hauling down Rogers during last month’s 4-0 defeat at the Emirates.

The Premier League’s key match incident panel this week unanimously ruled the officials had blundered by not sending the Arsenal man off.

Emery said: “With Morgan, he is a very important player for us and sometimes they are trying to kick him and stop him, sometimes being tight with a yellow card or red card.

“Two weeks ago, for example, at Arsenal, the action we saw with Merino and Morgan, was clearly a second yellow card.

“I am not complaining. I am updating everything which happened in the matches we played and we need to adapt quick in everything to how football is changing.”

Villa host Everton on Sunday aiming for a win which would keep them firmly in the title race and strengthen their place in the top-four.

Emery’s men have won 19 of their last 23 matches in all competitions, including the last 11 at home.

But the boss said his players are only focused on the next match and not the numbers already achieved.

“We are speaking about three points and how we must be focused individually and collectively on the match we are playing,” he said. We are not feeling something extra, we are feeling we need three points.

“Maybe we can get some new target for our matches in a row winning, but the priority is to win. If we are winning, we are achieving it (12 home wins in a row).

“It’s not the mentality we have. The mentality we have is to focus on each match with the points we have and the competition we’re facing and to get the points we need for our consistency in the top positions in the Premier League.”