Ollie Watkins Confirms Commitment To Aston Villa Despite Arsenal's Transfer Interest

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Ollie Watkins is keen to remain at the club, despite Arsenal's interest. The Gunners, led by Mikel Arteta, made a bid for Watkins as they seek a striker before the transfer window closes on Monday. However, Villa turned down the offer and are optimistic about retaining the England international for the rest of the season.

Emery expressed confidence in Watkins' commitment to Aston Villa. "Yes, he is happy to stay," Emery stated regarding Watkins, who recently scored his first Champions League goal in a 4-2 victory over Celtic. In that match, Watkins not only scored but also assisted two of Morgan Rogers' three goals.

Watkins has been instrumental for Villa this season, having both scored and assisted in four different matches across all competitions. Only Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka have achieved this more frequently for Premier League teams this term. "You can ask him," Emery said when discussing Watkins' feelings about staying with Aston Villa.

The 29-year-old forward has netted 81 goals in 201 appearances since joining from Brentford in 2020. He became only the second player after Gabriel Agbonlahor to be directly involved in 100 Premier League goals for Villa, achieving this milestone against West Ham last Sunday.

Emery highlighted Watkins' dedication to the club and how much he values their support. "The commitment of Watkins with us is a huge commitment," Emery noted. He praised how Villa has always backed Watkins and how their coaching staff has worked with him over the past two years to maximise his potential.

Watkins reached his century of Premier League goal involvements in just 169 appearances, significantly faster than Agbonlahor's 277 games. This achievement underscores his importance to the team and his ability to adapt to various situations within the squad.

Upcoming Challenges

Aston Villa currently sits eighth in the Premier League standings with 37 points from 23 matches. Their next challenge is against Wolves on Saturday, who are struggling with a four-match losing streak and are placed 18th on the table.

Emery acknowledged that interest from other clubs is beneficial for both players and the team. While some players choose to leave, others like Watkins decide to stay committed to Villa's challenges. "One of those is Watkins," Emery affirmed.