Arsenal offered two alternatives to Ollie Watkins who are 'more fluid' strikers

Arsenal have been told that Lille star Jonathan David and RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko could be suitable candidates to lead the Gunners line next season instead of Ollie Watkins. Mikel Arteta’s men are in desperate need of a new striker and submitted a bid for Aston Villa forward Watkins in January.

Arsenal are set to miss out on the Premier League title once again this season after falling 12 points behind table-topper Liverpool. The north London giants had attempted to keep their title aspirations alive just before the winter transfer deadline as they tabled a £60million offer for Watkins. But Villa, who have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, dismissed the interest as the prolific goalscorer stayed in the west Midlands.

Arsenal could return to the negotiating table in the summer and try to prise Watkins away from Villa Park once and for all.

But former Villans defender Richard Dunne isn’t convinced the England international would fit the bill for Arteta.

“He’s obviously a very good player, Ollie Watkins, and he does something for Aston Villa that works perfectly for the manager,” Dunne told Express Sport in an exclusive interview as part of his partnership with William Hill Vegas.

“He gives Villa a different asset and it’s just whether Arsenal would use that sort of centre-forward or do they want someone with a little bit more link-up play and a little bit more movement.

“It’s hard. It seems to be going almost back to big centre-forwards and centre-forwards who can make an impact. In the Champions League this year there isn’t a huge array of talent around. Jonathan David at Lille has been very good. Sesko at Leipzig has been good.

“Arsenal have struggled for a long time to find the right guy and it’s not easy. I think they want more of a fluid centre-forward, someone who can join in with the build-up play. It’s not an easy position for them.”

Watkins has bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for Villa this season after finding the back of the net on 27 occasions during the last campaign.

The 29-year-old joined Villa in 2020 after excelling for Brentford and is contracted to Villa until the summer of 2028.

And Dunne added: “I think there will be clubs certainly interested in him but Villa are on the cusp of something really good there. I don’t think he’ll be desperate to leave or desperately trying to push his way out of the club. He’s in a really good place at the moment.”