Arsenal Make Approach To Sign Villa Star Ollie Watkins

Arsenal have needed a striker to fill the boots of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a while now and the signings of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus haven't helped that situation. They are currently six points behind league leaders Liverpool, but the right signing could make the title race a little bit more interesting.

Their latest target is Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins, who’s last minute goal sent England into the final of a second successive European Championships last summer. A boyhood Arsenal fan, Watkins is unlikely to reject an approach from the Gunners, leaving the decision up to his current club Aston Villa.

What’s the latest?

Last night, just hours before Aston Villa kicked off their Champions League tie against Celtic, reports suggested that Arsenal had made a £60m bid for Watkins. The bid was rejected with Villa saying that they were not ready to let go of the striker, especially as Jhon Duran looks like he could be out of the door in this window.

"That's the dream, to play for Arsenal!" 🔴👀

Boyhood Arsenal fan Ollie Watkins said this while at Brentford in 2020 - the Aston Villa forward was subject to a bid from the Gunners last night with a follow-up expected 💰

[📹 via @SportsGazette on YouTube] pic.twitter.com/JElgC6rQmo

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 30, 2025

With less than a week left of the transfer window, even if Watkins was valued at £60m, Villa would be hard pressed to find a replacement who can replicate the Englishman’s form. He has 11 goals this season, but scored 19 in the last Premier League campaign, a personal record for him. Villa could be persuaded to sell if Arsenal offer a little bit more, as Watkins is 29 years old, and offers upwards of £70m don’t come around too often.

Does Watkins Fit Arsenal’s Play

The main issue I have surrounding this transfer, is that Watkins doesn’t feel like an Arsenal player to me. The Gunners play a patient brand of football, waiting to spot a gap in the opposition defence, or crossing the ball to the back post for a towering presence like Havertz to head in. While Watkins is good in the air and has scored headers many times in the Premier League, that isn’t where his best assets are.

Watkins is at his best when he is using his pace to exploit high lines and get in behind defenders. He has surprising strength for his stature which he uses to bully defenders to latch onto long balls. Arsenal rarely play like this, and even if they did, they have the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka who can finish off chances like that.

🚨:According to reports in Italy, Juventus are willing to accept £33m for Arsenal target Dusan Vlahovic.

Personal Terms should not be a problem. As he wants to leave Juventus.

Will Arsenal push for Vlahovic now? 👀🔴⚪️

More news soon. 👀 #AFC #Juventus #Vlahovic pic.twitter.com/X0Zarf4ngq

— Alex Robinson (@Alex_Robinson_7) January 22, 2025

Arsenal have been linked to a few other strikers either in this window or last summer who are a lot more suited to their play. Matheus Cunha was one player linked, but he plays similarly to Watkins and is probably more vital to Wolves than the Englishman is to Villa, so they might demand a similar fee.

Benjamin Sekso and Dusan Vlahovic are two players who, for me, fit the profile that Arsenal are looking for. They have 14 and 12 goals for RB Leipzig and Juventus respectively this season, and they are both significantly younger than Watkins, so would be a good investment for the future. Like Watkins, they won’t come cheap, but if Arsenal are throwing £60m around, they probably have the money.