Ollie Watkins is a real contender to be Premier League player of the season

Some younger Aston Villa fans would be forgiven for not being aware of Peter Withe’s career. Withe was the last player to score 20 league goals in a season for the club, doing so in 1980-81, the last time Villa won the top flight. Withe’s goalscoring record has stood for more than 40 years but is likely to be broken before the season is out.

Ollie Watkins scored his 19th league goal of the season on Sunday at the Emirates, potentially putting a nail in the coffin of Arsenal’s title challenge. Arsenal are just two points behind the leaders with six games to play, but the Manchester City juggernaut is relentless. This time last season they put together a run of 12 wins to secure the title, the first stage of a treble they are keen to repeat this year. Given how City are playing – they have not lost since their defeat at Villa Park in December – Watkins’ late strike on Sunday was a huge blow for Arsenal’s hunt for silverware.

Watkins has been exceptional since Unai Emery took over at Villa in November 2022. He has scored 32 league goals in that time; only Erling Haaland (39) has more. Haaland and Cole Palmer currently lead the race for the golden boot with 20 goals each, but Watkins has them looking over their shoulders. No Villa player has won the golden boot in the Premier League era.

“I think the best of him is coming,” said Emery of Watkins last month. His goal on Sunday showcased the England international at his very best. Timing his run to perfection to stay onside and latch on to Youri Tielemans’ ball upfield, Watkins held off Martin Ødegaard brilliantly before finishing delicately past David Raya. His second touch seemed to have taken the ball too far wide but, even from such a tight angle, the Villa forward finished brilliantly to wrap up the three points.

Watkins has been prolific in the league and in Europe, scoring seven goals in the Conference League to guide Villa towards the semi-finals. His goal tally is even more impressive when you consider that none of them have been penalties – Douglas Luiz is on penalty duties for Villa this season. Watkins has scored 19 non-penalty goals in the league, at least three more than any other player. Whereas Haaland (four) and Palmer (nine) have relied on penalties to boost their numbers, Watkins does not have such a luxury. The 28-year-old has to rely on his clever movement and quality finishing from open play.

Watkins is not just providing goals for Villa this season. Granted, a striker’s primary aim is to put the ball in the back of the net, something he does to an extremely high standard, but he has also chipped in with 10 assists; no one has set up more goals than Watkins and no one has been directly involved in more goals (29). He is also the only player in the division to have registered double figures for both goals and assists.

No wonder Emi Martínez spoke up the possibility of Watkins being voted player of the season after Villa beat Arsenal on Sunday. “I think Ollie should win player of the season,” said the goalkeeper. “When you play for a big six side you get more credit, but Ollie has scored 19 goals with the chances he’s got.” There is weight to the idea. It’s an accolade often saved for title winners – Manchester City and Liverpool players have dominated the award for the last six seasons – but Watkins deserves to be included in the conversation alongside Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Rodri, Haaland and Palmer.

Looking at the bigger picture, attention will soon turn to Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024. Harry Kane will be the undisputed first-choice striker this summer but the role of his understudy is up for grabs. Ivan Toney’s performances for Brentford have forced him back into the reckoning. He has excelled following his return to action and deputised well for Kane against Belgium last month, scoring his first international goal. In terms of like-for-like cover for Kane, Toney is perhaps the better fit, but Watkins’ goalscoring form and ability to bring others into play suggests he could be an ideal link-up man for the national team.

When you consider the attacking players in the England squad – Saka, Foden, Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Jarrod Bowen have all comfortably reached double figures for league goals this season – Watkins’ selflessness could be ideal for Southgate. He has already cemented his spot as a Villa fan favourite and, as Emery says, the best is yet to come. By the time the season draws to a close, he may well have fired the club into the Champions League and won a European trophy before he jets off to Germany to represent England. Before then, though, Watkins has to score a couple more goals in the league so he can write his name into the Villa history books.

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