GiveMeSport
·5 October 2021
GiveMeSport
·5 October 2021
Journalist Luke Hatfield reckons that Ollie Watkins would be a good signing for Arsenal but has questioned whether the North London giants could afford him.
The Villa frontman has made a slow start to this season, with his first goal coming in Sunday's defeat at Tottenham in his fifth appearance.
However, the 25-year-old enjoyed a dream first campaign in the Premier League following his move from Brentford, scoring 14 times to help Villa secure a 11th-place finish and has attracted interest from the Gunners.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are already looking at Watkins as a potential replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, whose contract runs out next summer and isn't likely to extend his stay with the club.
After scoring twice in a 3-0 Villa victory at the Emirates last season, Watkins told Sky Sports that he's an Arsenal supporter and used to idolise legendary striker Thierry Henry.
But Hatfield reckons that Watkins, who arrived for £28m from the Bees last summer, might be too expensive for the Gunners.
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He told GIVEMESPORT: "Watkins would prove a good buy, but it's the fee that Villa would demand for him now that would be serious money and I'm not sure Arsenal would be able to meet that.
"We've seen them splash big before on the likes of Pepe and other players, but having signed him before for £30m, they'll probably value him well above £50m now, so it'll be a tough one for Arsenal to execute. But everyone has seen Watkins' quality now, so if he can continue to emulate that and can continue to perform for Villa, it wouldn't surprise me if there are suitors."
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Right now, Arsenal have two strikers in Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, as mentioned above, the Frenchman is likely to leave next summer, whilst club captain Aubameyang has been far from his best since the beginning of last season, with his goalscoring form problematic.
Not only could Watkins be a great long-term replacement for the Gabonese frontman, but his age would make him an extremely attractive proposition for Mikel Arteta, who's been trying to bring down the age in the squad in recent months and is looking to build for the future.
However, at around £50m, which is what Arsenal paid Brighton for Ben White, it would take a huge financial effort to bring Watkins to the Emirates.