Exclusive: Why Arsenal really submitted bid for Aston Villa striker Watkins
Arsenal had an ulterior motive in their winter transfer bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, according to Ian Darke.
The TV commentator exclusively told Villa News that while the Gunners’ interest in him was genuine, the bid launched for the England forward could just have been a ploy.
Watkins once again becomes the undisputed first-choice striker for Unai Emery after Duran left in a lucrative move to Al-Nassr.
Arsenal bid for Ollie Watkins a ‘PR stunt’
Aston Villa received what was suggested to be a £60million bid from Arsenal for Watkins, who grew up supporting the North London side and scored a vital equaliser against them last month at the Emirates.
The Villans were refusing to entertain any interest in their frontman, after dispensing with Duran for over £70million and dipping into the funds to cover the bulky wages of new arrivals such as Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
Darke believes the could have been a “PR” element to the offer from the Emirates for a player now the only established striker at Villa Park.
“Arsenal have a history of these bids, remember the [£40m + £1] Suarez bid [in 2013]? £60million isn’t a joke bid, but there could be a PR element to it from Arsenal’s point of view, appeasing the supporters,” Darke explained.
“They will have known Watkins is an Arsenal fan. But when Villa knew that Duran was going, there would be no chance at all Watkins follows him.
“And he’s probably pretty relieved Duran isn’t breathing down his neck anymore.”
Watkins can play free of pressure for Aston Villa after Duran exit
There was a great deal of controversy around Duran’s red card at Newcastle United on Boxing Day, which would have been even more the case had Villa fans know what they know now.
It was to be effectively the end of the charismatic Colombian at Villa Park, with Watkins not looking back once he reclaimed his starting spot, coinciding with the monstrous bid for Duran from the Saudi Pro League.
Emery was always rigid with his system and has now seen his squad flooded with gifted wide players who can combine forces with Watkins.
The Three Lions man must be salivating at the prospect of world-class talent outside of him in the side, and while he may not have got the move to Arsenal he dreamed of as a kid, it might at this stage be something that leaves him completely unfazed with the shape in which Villa appear to be.