Ollie Watkins and agents give Arsenal transfer ‘go-ahead’ amid Aston Villa unrest
Ollie Watkins never appeared to be a name seriously considered to depart Aston Villa until fairly recently.
The 29-year-old has been far from a nailed-on first-choice option for Unai Emery in recent months, and has made no secret of his annoyance at being omitted from the side in massive encounters in both the Premier League and Champions League.
In Villa’s quest to qualify for the latter, Watkins has dovetailed between the starting XI and the substitutes’ bench, when it seemed for all the world he would be the main man following Jhon Duran’s January departure.
Watkins team give ‘go-ahead’ for Arsenal deal says Alan Shearer
Watkins is an experienced operator for both Aston Villa and England and has a mature head on his shoulders. He knows every word he’s saying and with conviction.
That is why it became eye-opening when he elected to be transparent about his rage at Emery when left out of the side to face Paris Saint-Germain on the final step of this year’s European journey.
Watkins was linked with a bid from Arsenal of up to £60million in the January transfer window, having grown up supporting the Gunners – against whom he scored a vital equaliser at the Emirates in the same month.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, on BBC Match of the Day (3 May, 29:40), discussed Watkins’ future, with his England forward predecessors admitting “unrest” and that the Villa ace’s representatives will have given Arsenal the “go-ahead” to pursue a deal.
“There’s been a lot of talk about Ollie Watkins of late and his situation. There’s been a little bit of unrest,” Lineker posed.
Shearer responded: “Yeah, I would absolutely guess that – because it’s alright being left out of a league game now and again, but when you’re left out of the biggest games of the season like he was against PSG, then you think ‘okay’.
“He didn’t score [Saturday], but he’s one of the best in the league at running in behind. He’s a constant thorn.
“[Villa] will have a decision to make; he may have a decision to make. He’s got two years left, he’s coming up to 30, so it’s either sign a new contract or go elsewhere. And with the interest from Arsenal back in January – I don’t suspect that’s happened without him knowing about it and giving the go-ahead.”
Aston Villa and Watkins to reach breaking point?
Emery is paid to make the key decisions, and he has certainly not shown any shyness in doing so.
That provides crucial clarity for the Aston Villa fans and players, but Watkins’ omission against PSG was jaw-dropping given the huge moments he has provided the Villans down the years in titanic matches.
Emery has often preferred Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United loanee now no longer available to him after picking up his hamstring injury.
| Ollie Watkins – recent matches | Minutes played |
| PSG (A) – 9 April | 12 |
| Southampton (A) – 12 April | 25 |
| PSG (H) – 15 April | 15 |
| Newcastle (H) – 19 April | 83 |
| Man City (A) – 22 April | 15 |
| Crystal Palace (N) – 26 April | 90 |
| Fulham (H) – 3 May | 71 |
The Spaniard was rigid in his system when Watkins and Duran were rarely deemed suitable to play together, with Duran’s lucrative switch to Al-Nassr reinforcing the former’s place as the primary attacking threat. Or at least that’s what many had thought.
Onto the summer. Watkins is under contract until 2028, but with the World Cup on the horizon next year, he will not tolerate being sat on the bench at this stage of his career.