‘Ollie Watkins to hold Unai Emery showdown talks after Aston Villa omission v PSG’
Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins could now hold talks with manager Unai Emery in the summer about his place, with his head predicted to be “all over the place” after being benched vs PSG.
The striker has been a mainstay for the club for several years now, proving key to the success they have enjoyed both in the Premier League and in cups at home and abroad with some vital goals.
Earlier this season Watkins saw off competition from Jhon Duran to keep his place in the Aston Villa side, with the Colombian subsequently moving to Saudi Arabia during the January transfer window.
However, the England international now finds himself having to fight once again for his place in the starting XI at Villa Park.
Marcus Rashford favoured over Ollie Watkins
In each of the last three games that his side have played, manager Unai Emery has named Watkins as a substitute as a starter.
Instead it has been Man United loanee Marcus Rashford who has been given the nod to lead the line in attack.
That meant that Watkins had to settle for limited involvement in both legs of his side’s Champions League quarter final clash with PSG over the last week.
There was surprise that Rashford started for Aston Villa ahead of Watkins in the second leg of that clash on Tuesday (15 April).
Now Gabby Agbonlahor believes that could prompt the striker to take action come the end of this season, due to the fact he will want to play a bigger part in the key matches for his side.
| Ollie Watkins key stats for 2024/25 | Total (as per Transfermarkt) |
| Appearances | 47 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 12 |
| Yellows Cards | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 3,055 |
After he was asked on talkSPORT how he would feel if he was in Watkins’ position, the former Aston Villa striker said (16 April, 4:15pm): “I’d definitely be frustrated.
“I think my head would be all over the place because I’ve given so much to a football club and the two biggest games that this football club’s probably had in 42 years, obviously coming up through the play-offs was a massive game.
“But PSG in the quarter finals of the Champions League, two legs, you don’t start, you’re going to be frustrated. Tyrone Mings, not starting will be frustrated, you’re going to be.
“3-1 down but two goals needed from the start of the game, he’ll be frustrated and maybe in the summer he’ll [Watkins] have to have conversations with the manager and say ‘I want to be starting these big games, you know what I’ve done for this club I’ve scored so many goals for Aston Villa as well’.
“Do you know what I mean, I do think he can feel unlucky not to start.”
Aston Villa must be careful over potential talks
Football Insider Verdict
Ironically, Emery has been criticised for substituting Rashford for Watkins during the second half of that clash with PSG, a move which seemed to backfire as his lost momentum in the game.
That ended their hopes of a remarkable comeback, and so the Aston Villa manager may again keep faith with the Man United loanee against Newcastle at the weekend.
If that is the case it will only raise more questions about Watkins’ own position at the club, given he knows he is good enough and deserves to be starting such big games.
It should also be noted that Arsenal had bids rejected by Aston Villa for Watkins in January, so the striker may know he can look elsewhere for those opportunities if he is not going to get them under Emery.
With that in mind, the club do need to be careful given the likes of Rashford and Marco Asensio are only on loan until the end of the season as things stand.
They will therefore not want to alienate such an important player as Watkins who is still contracted to the club, meaning Emery will have to think hard about any ultimatum he might be given by the striker.