Aston Villa are in real danger of capitulating here.
That’s eight games without a win, goals going in for fun and now the attack seems to have lost its edge as the gruelling winter period has already kicked in.
On Sunday, Aston Villa were beaten 3-0 at Chelsea, it was a deserved loss and one that doesn’t and shouldn’t surprise the supporters.
You can’t have many arguments about Villa’s Champions League performances, but the fact of the matter is, for far too long, the performances haven’t deserved anything from a game and now the team is in a worrying position.
Everyone will look towards the defence – that’s 22 goals shipped in 13 matches and only one clean sheet in the Premier League.
Added to that, Emi Martinez picked up an injury against Chelsea, so if he is out of action for any period of time, then it’s a problem.
But the forward line has also lost its edge, not scoring in four out of the last five matches and Ollie Watkins has, unfortunately, been at the heart of it all.
Daniel Sturridge says Ollie Watkins is ‘doubting’ himself
At 1-0, Watkins had two guilt-edge chances to score, especially his first effort when he was one-v-one with Robert Sanchez and he ended up passing the ball to him in a tame manner.
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Then the much-criticised Jaden Philogene slipped him the ball inside the penalty area at an angel, but he didn’t get great contact with his shot and proceeded to hit it straight at the Chelsea keeper again.
Daniel Sturridge stated that Watkins is ‘doubting’ himself amid his struggles with confidence, as he told Sky Sports Premier League (01/12/24 at 2:30 pm).
“If you see the angle, it’s kind of under his feet a little bit,” said Sturridge. “He doesn’t get enough angle to actually whip it far enough, so he guides it towards the goalkeeper.
“He kind of snatches at it. Watkins has the ability, but he can probably manipulate it here, cut inside and go on his left foot. He is trusting himself on his right.
“As we said earlier, he is probably struggling with a little bit of confidence, when you miss chances in games, then sometimes, you do start to doubt yourself and he snatched at that chance.”
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa and Wesley Fofana of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa FC at Stamford Bridge ...
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Watkins’ stats for Aston Villa this season
The problem facing Watkins now is that he has Jhon Duran breathing down his neck – he has scored in his last two starts and doesn’t suffer with confidence, that’s for sure.
Perhaps the heavy fixture load will make up Emery’s mind for him, in terms of rotating, but he has a big call to make as to who starts for Villa against Brentford on Wednesday night.
As posted by Transfermarkt, Watkins has six goal in 13 Premier League matches, which is heading towards matching his tally of 19 from the previous campaign, but the team’s current situation doesn’t help his cause.
Competition Apps Goals Assists Minutes
Premier League Premier League 13 6 2
UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League 5 – 1
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