Arsenal appears to have received a huge boost as Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins appears to be available this summer.
The Gunners rejected a bid for England International in January, but his form has since been soaked, and he lost his place in Unai Emery’s starting lineup.
Watkins has had a great career in the Premier League and has proven himself an elite goalscoller at this level, and was certainly welcomed at Emirates Stadium.
With all Arsenal fans considering how to buy tickets for Arsenal vs Crystal Palace at the Emirates later this month, who will be Mikel Arteta’s top target this summer?
Is Ollie Watkins signing the new striker Arsenal needs?
Some Arsenal fans will feel the club can do better than Watkins, who has now been 29 years old and has recently boiled.
I imagine Watkins could revive his form, but that’s a bit of a gamble for someone who only has two or three years left at the highest level.
Liverpool is also linked to Watkins, according to a report by Football Insider, but Arteta may be looking at several other well-known centre-forwards.
Arsenal is also strongly associated with Benjamin Sesco, but I imagine that things like Alexander Isaac, Victor Osimhen and Victor Guiyoker will also be names to watch.
AFC fans will probably prefer one of them to Watkins now, even if the January move of the villa frontman had a big impact on the team’s season and was great business.
It’s been a highly frustrating campaign of injuries after injury for the North London Giants, and Kai Herberts and Gabriel Jesus are unlikely to play again.
Meanwhile, Bukayosaka has missed many games and has just returned recently, so I imagine that a threat of targets like Watkins can make a huge difference for the club during this tricky time.
Arsenal recently fell out of the Premier League title race, with draws with Manchester United, Everton and Brentford and others, and it seems Liverpool can escape the title.
Watkins may have been ideal for breaking deadlocks in these tight games, but he imagines that next season will require more informing options as young as he is.