Roy Keane hands Ollie Watkins brutal reality check after Arsenal transfer saga

Roy Keane cast doubt over whether Ollie Watkins has what it takes to lead the line for Arsenal after the Aston Villa striker squandered a big opportunity in their FA Cup triumph over Cardiff. Despite interest from Mikel Arteta's side during the January transfer window, a bid for Watkins was rejected by Villa, and the Gunners did not pursue a deal any further.

The 29-year-old forward scored in consecutive matches following the closure of the window but has since experienced a three-game goal drought across all competitions. Cardiff managed to hold their Premier League opponents at bay for much of the first half at Villa Park, with the game remaining goalless for over an hour. However, Marco Asensio eventually shattered Cardiff's defence, netting a decisive double to secure victory.

Cardiff's Ethan Horvath earned player of the match honours from ITV broadcasters after a crucial save against Watkins in the first half. During the interval, Keane suggested that Watkins' inability to convert such chances indicates he may not be ready for the top tier.

He said: "It's just the decisions when you're in the box, because I think that he had enough time."

Fellow pundit Ian Wright weighed in on the miss, saying: "It's just the decisions when you're in the box, because I think that he had enough time. You can clip that over the trailing leg, because... when you're doing your football training, you know you've got to lift something, because if you try and place it you've got to be so accurate."

Addressing Watkins' potential further, Keane explained: "I like Watkins, I think he's a really good player, I think he's a threat, but maybe this is his level," further suggesting that Watkins may not ascend to the ranks of top-tier strikers.

Amid discussion, presenter Mark Pougatch questioned if a missed opportunity was what separated a very good striker from an elite one, to which Keane agreed, asserting: "I think so. I'm sure he'll get chances in the second half, and he might take them, but in those moments you've got to cash in there."

Although Watkins failed to score in the second half, he did set up Asensio for another goal during the evening. Aston Villa's triumph puts them in the hat for the FA Cup quarter-final draw, while last year’s finalists Manchester United and Manchester City are set to engage later in the weekend.

With their sights now set on the Champions League, Villa manager Unai Emery expressed enthusiasm about their upcoming fixture against Club Brugge, saying: "Now we focus on the Champions League. We are there and we have to enjoy it and compete. We are going to play Brentford next week. It's a tough week but excited for us and supporters."