Aston Villa told Ollie Watkins now wants to quit, Agbonlahor instantly reacts
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has been a consistently strong performer over the years, but is now in a difficult position.
Villa rejected an offer from Arsenal for Watkins in January, and he has since struggled with injuries, with the England star scoring just once in his last five league games.
Unai Emery recruited Marcus Rashford in the January transfer window, and the loanee has shared the minutes upfront with Watkins.
Watkins was a substitute as Villa lost 3-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final clash, and the decision to leave him out of the starting XI could now impact his future.
Alan Brazil makes shock Watkins exit claim
Speaking on talkSPORT (06.11 am, 10 April), pundit Alan Brazil remarkably claimed that Watkins’ exclusion from the starting XI in Paris could make him want to depart Villa.
“Ollie Watkins didn’t start. He’ll be delighted with that; he’ll want to move now,” Brazil said, perhaps somewhat tongue in cheek.
Villa icon Gabriel Agbonlahor had a lot to say in response, and he also questioned Emery’s decision to bench the striker.
| Stat | Ollie Watkins |
| Appearances | 45 |
| Goals | 14 |
| Assists | 12 |
“I did think to myself, ‘he’ll be so disappointed, the amount of goals he’s scored for this football club, and to miss out on these big, big games – he’ll be frustrated,'” Agbonlahor stated.
“If I’m the manager I’m starting him in the next game next Tuesday, maybe him and Rashford through the middle.”
Watkins should have started vs PSG
Villa were under serious pressure away at PSG, and perhaps the decision to bench Watkins backfired.
Rashford offered little on the ball, and failed to register a single shot in the game. Having an outlet with Watkins’ quality could have made more of an impact for Villa.
Watkins has been a remarkable performer under Emery, and even this season he has recorded 14 goals and 12 assists.
The 29-year-old should now start the second leg, perhaps with Rashford on the wing alongside him, to give Villa the best possible chance of turning around their two-goal deficit.