23/04/2025 11:00
Ollie Watkins is expected be re-considered by Arsenal this summer with Mikel Arteta’s side needing a new striker and the Aston Villa star unhappy with recent team selections.
Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have forced the Gunners’ boss to use Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker this season.
As a consequence, Arsenal made a bid for Watkins in January whilst shopping around for a new striker, but the offer was swiftly rejected.
With two star forwards on their books, Villa chose to sell Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr, placing their faith in the England international.
However, Watkins then lost his place in the Villains’ starting line-up as he struggled with a niggling injury and a loss of form, and was on the bench during the second-leg of a narrow 5-4 aggregate loss to PSG in the Champions League.
Ollie Watkins future in doubt after Marcus Rashford takes starting spot
Unai Emery chose to use Marcus Rashford in Watkins’ place during the match against Ligue 1’s champions.
Whilst Villa won 3-2 on the night, it was not enough to squeeze through against one of the favourites to win the competition.
Having been displaced by the Man United loanee, serious doubts were cast over Watkins’ future at Villa Park, although he rebounded in sparkling fashion with a goal inside a minute as he started the subsequent 4-1 win over European-qualification rivals Newcastle.
The England international’s return to the starting XI was short-lived, as Emery once again chose to start Rashford in Tuesdsay evening’s (22 April) 2-1 loss to Man City.
But with the former Brentford striker is understood to be an Arsenal fan, it has reignited suggestions he may swap the Midlands for North London this summer.
However, whilst the striker would undoubtedly have been upset at Emery’s decision in the Champions League, ex-Villa defender Alan Hutton is hoping the 29-year-old will “stay long-term” at Villa Park.
Aston Villa on the up and not looking to sell star players like Ollie Watkins
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, via NewBettingOffers.co.uk, Hutton explained why Arsenal may still be interested in Watkins, but also why the striker will likely benefit from the stiff competition for places at Villa, saying: “Look, he’s an Arsenal fan, isn’t he? I think everybody kinda knows that, so there was interest there. I think it’s a position that Arsenal need to fill, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they kind of looked at him.
“But, I think as a player, especially at a club like Aston Villa at this moment, where you’re chasing top four, you’re playing the Champions League, you need competition. He had it with Jhon Duran and earlier on in the season, so I think that makes you better, makes you produce your best football.
“And of course, you’re going to be unhappy, everybody wants to play in the big games and when I didn’t see his name on the team sheet against PSG, you’re thinking right, okay, he’s probably going to be a little bit upset because I would be but, he showed the right reaction.
| 2024/25 Premier League stats | Watkins |
| Appearances | 33 |
| Starts | 27 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Minutes | 2,259 |
“He comes in against Newcastle, has a great performance, and that’s what you want. You want everybody pushing each other; that’s how you get to the highest levels in your team and in your career.
“So I would hope he would stay, right? You don’t want anybody kind of throwing their toys out of the pram and wanting to jump ship just because you’ve sat out a few games.
“He’s not that character, but I like to see that fight that’s within him. So hopefully he stays long term and they can build because, Villa for me, at this moment time they’re just headed up the way. They’ll want to add to what they already have to maintain that level.”
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