Arsenal have been warned against a move to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa this summer as the club looks to bolster their front line.
The Gunners allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave to join Barcelona in the winter window, while both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah both look destined for an exit this summer, leaving us with no senior options for the central role for the new season.
Naturally that means that we simply have to add at least one new striker in the coming window, and Watkins is one who has been linked with a move to the Emirates in recent windows.
Former Villa striker Frank McAvennie claims that he isn’t the answer to our problems however.
“Watkins to Arsenal? I’m not sure,” McAvennie told FootballInsider.
“I don’t think he’s an out and out centre forward and that’s what Arsenal need.
“I don’t think he can play up front on his own. Maybe he could if there were a lot of good players around him.
“Arsenal have been so hot and cold this season. you never know what you are going to get with them.
“Would he shine as a big player in that team? I’m not convinced. I like him a lot, I just don’t see him at Arsenal.
“Plenty of clubs will be interested in him if Villa do want to let him go.
“So let’s see what happens, I just think Arsenal might be a level too high for him.”
It is difficult to believe that Watkins can be the striker that our club needs when a team like Aston Villa is willing to offload him. If we are talking about a serious signing this summer to bridge the gap on those at the top of the table, then you would imagine that he would need be proven in front of goal, and not someone like Watkins who still has plenty to prove.
Do you think Watkins would suit what Arteta is building in north London?
Patrick
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lets go for a biggerprospect
Not good enough!!!!!!
OIllie Watkins is just one of many strikers that Arsenal have been linked with recently who are a level, or even, two below what we need.
I will leave it to the “Brains Trust” to make their choice in the summer, before actually commenting!!!
What we need, and what we get or who we convince may be 2 different things. Arteta has done a good job so far in identifying players, and oversight has done well to nix some as well; Arthur comes to mind.
We need Plan A and Plan B strikers for the tactics and opponents. That is a chunk of change for 2 strikers; maybe a young talent as an A option, and a veteran holdup player as a Plan B.
With Arteta and Edu convinced vlahovic was the go to man in January,
I trust they would do well to pick the right choice in the summer,
I agree @Durand, A young striker and a Veteran would do,
At the moment I can’t think of any young striker to do Lacazette’s job and more,
Let’s watch and see.
*Isak, I like really. Maybe he will fit or not, I don’t know, I’m not an expert.
*Lautaro Martinez, good team and individual player I suppose. Might be overpriced too, if he will not ditch us too.
If it’s between Ollie and Laca, I’d take Watkins all day every day…that said, if we were solely looking to get someone with PL experience, I would pursue Toney even before DCL
I would also go after Toney, looks a better prospect than Watkins, he’s also takes a great penalty…..
From what I have seen I think Watkins would fit in well with our current squad, but I don’t see Mr G letting him go just now and I would imagine the player would fancy being part of a potential Villa revival under him
I think we should suss out the Bamford situation myself as he could well fancy a move to us from a struggling Leeds and I think he could fit into our style of play, looks an intelligent and hard working player who can score goals and has a fair bit of experience