Watkins to Arsenal: A dream transfer or Arteta’s desperate gamble?

Ollie Watkins dreams of playing for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta is trying to help him realise this ambition.

On Wednesday, Arsenal made a formal offer for the Aston Villa striker amounting to around €72 million. The bid came completely out of the blue because, even though the Gunners had been linked before, Watkins was not thought to be a January target.

Aston Villa, of course, rejected the approach as they are simultaneously locked in negotiations with Al-Nassr over their other elite striker – Jhon Duran. There has been friction between Unai Emery and the Colombian, so the Birmingham club are looking increasingly likely to sell.

FootballTransfers understands that Arsenal could make an improved offer for Watkins to signal their intent, although if Villa agree to offload Duran, they will surely not sell Watkins as well.

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However, the fact that Arsenal made a bid in the first place took many by surprise. At 29, the England international is not exactly the kind of player Mikel Arteta has been targeting lately.

To be sure, he has shown a willingness to add experience when needed, as he did with Jorginho and Leandro Trossard, yet Arsenal have almost exclusively targeted young strikers in recent times.

Watkins to Arsenal – A deal that actually makes sense?

Yet one can’t help but feel that Watkins moving to North London, no matter how unlikely, would actually make sense. In fact, it would be Arsenal’s safest bet, in many ways.

Of course, spending €72m – or more – on a player coming towards his 30s would be somewhat controversial but he would give Arsenal exactly what they need for at least a few years.

Unlike other targets such as Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, Watkins is a proven Premier League striker. He has ample experience of playing at the highest level and he fits Arteta’s profile of a physical striker who can combine with teammates and score in equal measure.

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Moreover, Arteta values application just as much as ability and there would be no concerns in that department over Watkins, a boyhood Arsenal fan. In fact, he would jump at the opportunity to play for the Gunners.

“That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day. But, you know, it’s a long shot,” he said back in 2020. Now, it doesn’t look like such a long shot anymore. In fact, the data backs up that this would be a smart move.

According to data analytics firm SciSports, Arsenal are his second-best option after only his current club Aston Villa, illustrating that he would likely be an instant hit under Arteta.

Villa’s reluctance and the fee involved may make a deal improbable, but it is evident why Arsenal tested the waters. Watkins could be Arteta’s unlikely solution to Arsenal’s No.9 problem.