And on Wednesday, Arsenal made a £60million bid for Ollie Watkins which left Aston Villa furious with the Gunners.
Arsenal’s offer was rejected straight away as Aston Villa made it clear how unhappy they were with the timing of the bid.
With just a few days left until the transfer window shuts, the Watkins saga could be one to follow right until deadline day.
When it comes to Arsenal attacking legends, there are none more esteemed than Thierry Henry, who has already delivered his verdict on Watkins.
Thierry Henry says Ollie Watkins is the kind of player who ‘will punish you’
Last season, Watkins scored a brace in a 3-2 win away at Luton Town, and Henry loved what he saw from the Villa star.
“That’s a very Didier Drogba goal-like, boom,” Henry said on Sky Sports (04/03/24 at 6:55 pm) about Watkins’ header against Luton.
“Again, he is allowed to run in the box. Are you going to let a guy that can head the ball well run in the box like that? Then he will punish you.
On Watkins’ second goal, Henry said: “And this one, is a tiny bit different. Douglas Luiz knows exactly how he is going to play that ball.
“What I like is the first touch from Watkins and then trust the curve. The curve will always bring the ball back.
“What I like here is what he does with his left leg, let the ball bounce and put your leg in a position, then the ball will stay.”
On Watkins’ goals and assists at that point last season, Henry said: “This is something I always mentioned about players. Can you also assist?
“We all know Ollie Watkins can score. But can you add something else to your game? Can you come, can you lay off the ball to someone?
“Not only scoring, we all know you have that in your locker. That impresses me, the ten assists.”
“That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day. But, you know, it’s a long shot,” Watkins said at the 2020 London Football Awards ceremony.
Watkins has also revealed that Henry has always been his idol.
Knowing Watkins is a boyhood Arsenal fan could potentially have crossed the Gunners’ mind as they made their bid.
It remains to be seen what happens in the coming days, but there’s no doubt that Watkins is a proven Premier League striker and would tick a lot of boxes for Arsenal.
0 Comments