Striker continued his brilliant form as Villa came from behind to win.
Unai Emery saluted “warrior” Ollie Watkins after his double helped Villa fight back to win at Manchester City.
Villa finished off their superb season in style with a first Premier League win at the Etihad Stadium since 2007, in Pep Guardiola’s final match in charge of the hosts.
Resurgent Watkins took his tally for the campaign to 21 with his fourth brace in his last 12 appearances, with the visitors upping their game in the second half after Antoine Semenyo had fired City in front.
The England international had been keen to play, despite the celebrations which followed last week’s Europa League final win.
Emery said of Watkins: “He’s a fighter. He’s a warrior. How he’s finishing the season is fantastic.
“Even 90 minutes, maybe he was expecting to play less or to rest because Tammy Abraham was sick.
“But how he was being hungry to score more goals, to play more. I think now is his moment.”
Watkins himself added: "A few boys dropped out because we had a heavy couple of nights. I ended up playing today, everything happens for a reason. I got the two goals and we ended on a high."
Emery also reserved praise for those players drafted into the team and continued: “Leon Bailey, wow, what a match. Everybody, I’m so so proud of everybody.
“Tyrone Mings after playing some matches not winning, not feeling physically good but today he played a fantastic game.”
Villa played their part in the celebrations to mark Guardiola’s farewell, forming a guard of honour for Bernardo Silva and John Stones when they were substituted in their final appearances for the club.
Emery also gifted Guardiola a lion trophy before the match.
The Villa boss, who last week described the departing City manager as the “only genius” in football management, said: "It's a Lion for his career, that's for everything he's given in football."
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