Troy Deeney names Aston Villa player who made him ‘very happy’ in win vs Brighton
Troy Deeney could not contain his happiness for Ollie Watkins after the England striker scored a brace in the 4-3 win over Brighton on Wednesday.
Watkins has struggled for goals at Aston Villa this season, having scored just one in 13 Premier League matches prior to the win.
Both goals were taken emphatically, and he spurred on Villa’s remarkable comeback from 2-0 down.
It could kickstart a positive run of form ahead of Aston Villa’s busy schedule, and ex-Birmingham City player Deeney was full of praise for Watkins’ key contributions against the Seagulls.
Troy Deeney over the moon for Ollie Watkins’ brace vs Brighton
Watkins has been a fantastic signing for Aston Villa, scoring 90 goals in 245 appearances since joining the club in 2020.
The 29-year-old has now moved up to three league goals for the season, and although he may not replicate the 16 goals in 2024-25, he can definitely go on a run of form that could propel Villa even further up the table.
Deeney named Watkins in his Premier League Team of the Week for BBC Sport, and said: “I was very happy to see him scoring and smiling again. He had a tough start to the season – it hasn’t been going well for him.
“He hasn’t been great, so it was good to see him score two at Brighton and fire Villa back. He dragged them over the line.”
Watkins dropped out of the England team due to his disappointing spell, although the next few months give him a perfect opportunity to regain his place as the games continue to come thick and fast.
Against Brighton, he had four shots, but outperformed his xG by 0.97, showcasing his lively threat and clinical nature in front of goal.
Villa’s biggest game of the season is against Arsenal on Saturday, and Watkins has returned to form at the perfect moment.
Why Ollie Watkins is primed to carry on fantastic scoring record vs Arsenal
This season, the Villa striker has created 10 chances, which highlights how vital his presence in the team is despite his lack of goals.
Watkins has been linked with an Arsenal move in the past, and it’s no wonder the Gunners have been interested.
Watkins boasts a remarkable record against Mikel Arteta’s side, and he has only scored more Premier League goals against Brighton (nine).
| Watkins vs Arsenal | |
| Appearances | 10 |
| Wins | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Goals scored | 6 |
| Assists | 0 |
Villa are coming up against a side in good form, although their defensive injuries have left them weaker at the back.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are likely to be unavailable, and deputy Christian Mosquera was also taken off with an injury during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brentford.
With the Gunners naming a makeshift defence, Watkins has no better opportunity to extend his impressive goalscoring record against the league leaders.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Aston Villa news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @villanews247