Arsenal have already been warned that Ollie Watkins is not the man to fire them to the Premier League title as they prepare to reignite their pursuit of the Aston Villa striker. Mikel Arteta is in the market for more firepower after a lack of finishing ability again cost his side dear this season, with Kai Havertz finishing as their top Premier League scorer with just nine goals.
Watkins, 29, struck 16 times in the top-flight for Villa, despite not always starting under Unai Emery. Arsenal made a last-ditch attempt to sign him in the January transfer window, but their audacious £60million bid was rejected. However, the forward seemingly remains one of three forwards being targeted by Arteta as the club bids to again challenge for the title and the Champions League next season.
According to the Mirror, Watkins is keen on a move to the Emirates. However, the Gunners are also pursuing Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, and are not expected to bring in more than one big-money forward.
And if they were to take advice from Roy Keane, that man would not be Watkins. He was blunt in his assessment of the England international in February while working as a pundit on Villa’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Cardiff City.
Referring to a missed first-half chance from Watkins, the Irishman said cuttingly: “It’s just the decisions when you’re in the box, because I think that he had enough time.
Asked if he felt the star was the man to elevate Arsenal, he replied: “I like Watkins, I think he’s a really good player, I think he’s a threat, but maybe this is his level. I’m sure he’ll get chances in the second half, but in those moments you’ve got to cash in there.”
Watkins has 87 goals in 223 games for Villa since joining from Bournemouth in the summer of 2020. He has 75 in the Premier League for the club, surpassing the previous record set by Gabby Agbonlahor.
Arsenal are likely to have to pay big money to sign him, given his current contract runs until the summer of 2028. However, Villa’s failure to secure Champions League football for next season could well impact his ambitions to move away.