Arsenal eye Ollie Watkins’ emotional boost amid Manchester United competition
Arsenal are preparing to take advantage of Ollie Watkins’ lifelong loyalty to the club as they step up their pursuit of the Aston Villa striker, preparing for a high-stakes transfer battle with Manchester United. With Watkins, 30, on the radar of both Premier League giants, the Gunners are ready to exploit their emotional advantage as the summer transfer market heats up.
Reports indicate Arsenal have tested Villa’s resolve before, with a £60million bid rejected in January 2025. Now, with Watkins potentially available for a reduced fee of £40million, the north London club face stiff competition not only from United – who were rejected last summer – but also from Turkish club Fenerbahce, who have also entered the fray. Meanwhile, Aston Villa are believed to be targeting Chelsea forward Nicholas Jackson – who spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich – as a replacement, indicating a possible openness to talks.
Arsenal continue their search for a proven Premier League striker, with Julian Alvarez identified as their top priority. Nevertheless, Watkins remains a compelling option, with not only domestic experience but also a well-documented affinity for the Gunners. Speaking during his Brentford days in 2020, Watkins admitted, “Yeah, it’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day. But, you know, it’s a long shot.” His relationship with the club runs deep, as he revealed after scoring against Arsenal on his Aston Villa debut: “I’m not sure my grandfather or uncle Baz would be too happy. They’re Arsenal fans and I’m an Arsenal fan myself – but I’m buzzing. I’m sure they’d love it really. I’m very happy,” Watkins told Sky Sports.
Watkins’ record against Arsenal is remarkable, scoring seven goals in twelve matches against Mikel Arteta’s side. Over the past two Premier League campaigns, he has performed consistently well, scoring 16 goals in each season and playing a key role in Villa’s fourth-place finish in the league and Europa League victory last season.
At international level, Watkins has recently returned from World Cup duty with England, making two substitute appearances – first in a 2–0 win over Panama and later in the second half as England secured third place under Thomas Tuchel in a dramatic 6–4 win against France. Despite his club-level heroics, Watkins remains on the fringes of the national team setup.
With two years remaining on his Aston Villa contract, Watkins now has 108 goals and 46 assists since his £33million transfer from Brentford. As Arsenal and Manchester United prepare to step up their bids, the striker’s emotional connection to the Emirates could prove decisive in one of the summer’s most compelling transfer sagas.
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