Lucas Digne and Amadou Onana react to Ollie Watkins’ Aston Villa announcement
Ollie Watkins received an award in recognition of his performances this season at Aston Villa, capping off what has been a standout campaign for the forward.
Aston Villa are preparing to take on a Manchester United side still reeling from their Europa League final defeat, with the final game of the season holding major implications for Unai Emery’s men as they push for a Champions League place.
One player they will look at to provide the important victory is Watkins, who has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa.
Despite facing uncertainty earlier in the season over his place in the team with Jhon Duran and even Marcus Rashford at times considered ahead of him, he has stepped up when it mattered most.
Watkins’ recent performances have been crucial in keeping Villa in contention for a top-five finish, and in recognition of his contributions, the club have now rewarded him with an award.
Ollie Watkins breaks Premier League record and receives Aston Villa honour
Watkins made history for Aston Villa after netting the winner against Bournemouth on 10 May, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League.
The England international has now netted 75 goals in the competition, surpassing Gabriel Agbonlahor’s long-standing record at the club.
To mark the achievement, Villa honoured Watkins during their end-of-season awards with a commemorative plaque, a signed letter, and a custom shirt featuring the number ‘75’.
Their Instagram caption simply read: “Record Breaker” – a post that quickly attracted likes from teammates including Lucas Digne and Amadou Onana.
As for this season, Watkins continues to prove his value, contributing 31 goal involvements in all competitions, with 16 of those goals coming in the Premier League.
| Aston Villa top scorers in the Premier League | Goals |
| 1. Ollie Watkins | 75 |
| 2. Gabby Agbonlahor | 74 |
| 3. Dwight Yorke | 60 |
| 4. Dion Dublin | 48 |
Arsenal to revive Ollie Watkins interest amid Aston Villa uncertainty
With his future at Villa Park still uncertain, Football Insider have revealed that Arsenal are plotting a move for Watkins this summer..
The Gunners had shown interest in January but instead of negotiating with Mikel Arteta’s side, Villa opted to accept a bid for Jhon Duran from Al-Nassr.
Now, however, it appears Arsenal are prepared to reignite their pursuit as they look to strengthen their frontline ahead of next season.
While Watkins has at times grown frustrated with his rotational role under Unai Emery, the opportunity to lead the line for a potential title challenger may offer the ideal next step in his career.