Yahoo News Ollie Watkins has simple Arsenal transfer decision if Aston Villa hold off Tottenham
Former Aston Villa right-back Simon Grayson says Ollie Watkins would have no reason to even consider leaving the club this summer if they secure the fourth Champions League spot ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the remaining weeks of the season. Watkins has been on fire this term under Unai Emery; he has scored 19 goals and produced ten assists in the Premier League alone this term.
Players like Watkins are naturally something of a rarity - an English striker who is in the form of his life and ticks a lot of boxes with his various attributes - and in possessing those qualities he would in theory command an enormous sum of money if he were to be prised away from Villa Park. That said, the prospect of Watkins leaving the club in the summer transfer window would be even lower than it already is if he was to be leading the line in the Champions League next term.
Grayson thinks Watkins is a genuine player of the year contender in the Premier League, although he expects him to be pipped by a player like Phil Foden or similar, and expects him to take his chance in Germany if he is selected to represent England at the European Championships this coming summer.
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"He must be in the running following his great season in front of goal and with Villa fighting for fourth spot, this is beyond their expectations at the start of the season," Grayson told Betway. "I just think that Foden at Man City and others among the top three teams will be more in favour than Watkins.
"In terms of what’s next for Watkins, Arsenal need a No. 9 and Watkins has been mentioned as a player that fits the Arsenal mould. I just think if Villa get fourth spot, then there is no need for Watkins to move. Also, any move from Villa to Arsenal will need to be a massive fee. There aren’t many English strikers in top form right now and even though Ivan Toney has been mentioned for top four teams, Watkins would be the one I would consider.
"I think he has had a super season and has Unai Emery to thank for this, as well as credit must go to Watkins himself, as his finishing has been excellent throughout the season. He deserves to make the Euro 2024 squad for England, but I think everyone would be pretty shocked and surprised if it’s not Harry Kane leading the line at the opening game for England. However, Watkins must take any chance he has when he comes on as substitute to make an impact."
As for Villa in general, they took another enormous step towards the top four by fully capitalising on Tottenham's heavy defeat at Newcastle United on Sunday with a well earned victory at title contenders Arsenal, denting the Gunners' Premier League ambitions in doing so. Grayson thinks that achievements like clinching a league double over Arsenal point to the direction Villa are heading in under Emery.
"I don't think too many people would have expected them to go and beat Arsenal in the form that Arsenal had been in," he added. "Villa are a huge football club in my opinion and it’s great to see them challenging at the top end of the table. Emery has done a great job, doing the double over Arsenal is no mean feat.
"He has the players playing for him and working so hard. They all know what they're doing. They've got players that can win games out of nothing like Watkins. They're pushing Tottenham for that fourth spot for Champions League football and it will be a great achievement if they manage to do that."
