Unai Emery cannot live without Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa striker is a ‘complete player’
Unai Emery really has built a star-studded squad at Aston Villa, with the club currently flying high in the Premier League and in Europe.
The Midlands outfit are particularly garnering attention, and now have the chance to go top when they host Sheffield United on Friday (22 December).
One man who will undoubtedly be key at Villa Park under the lights once again is star striker Ollie Watkins, with the England ace really enjoying his football right now.
As per Opta Analyst (20 December), the “complete player” sits joint-top of the charts for winning goals (the goal that separates the teams) in the Premier League this season, with Watkins alongside Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah on eight.
The Villa ace meanwhile is one of only four players to have reached five in both goals and assists in the current campaign, while only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (14) has more goals than assists than Watkins (13) when set-pieces and penalties are discounted.
Moreover, only Haaland (11) and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (10) have more non-penalty goals, with only Salah (7) and Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez (6) on more assists from open play, with Watkins on nine and five respectively.
The sheer volume of minutes handed to the Villa Park ace by Emery epitomises just how much the manager relies on him, with Opta Analyst (20 December) noting that the striker has played 1,489 of a possible 1,530 minutes (97.3%) in the Premier League this season.
A total of 19 players have played more, but Watkins rises to third place in the list when goalkeepers and defenders are removed.
The England star then climbs to the very top of the standings in terms of runs made (an off-the-ball movement made while his team is in possession, with intensity and to receive the ball or create space), with 562, as well as sitting in first place for runs that are targeted by a pass from a teammate (199) and runs into the penalty area (187).
In other Aston Villa news, an 86% Aston Villa ace has given Emery a headache after what happened in the 2-1 win against Brentford.