Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has suggested that Arsenal should make a concerted effort to sign Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, believing that he would be a more effective option in the squad than their current striker, Gabriel Jesus.
Watkins, who has had an outstanding season with Aston Villa, is widely regarded as one of the top strikers in the Premier League. His exceptional performances have helped Villa secure a spot in the Champions League, indicating the club’s ambition to become a serious contender for the Premier League title.
In an interview with Gambling Zone, Gallas praised Watkins’ qualities, particularly highlighting his pace and intelligence on the field. He emphasized that Watkins’ speed is a crucial asset for any striker, and when combined with the creative playmaking abilities of Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard, the partnership could be formidable.
Gallas envisions that Watkins could significantly boost Arsenal’s title chances by spearheading their attack, taking advantage of Ødegaard’s precise passing to create numerous goal-scoring opportunities.
Gallas noted that players like Watkins are challenging to defend against due to their clever movements and tactical awareness. He firmly believes that Watkins, paired with Ødegaard, could cause significant damage to opposing teams’ defenses.
Gallas even went as far as to say that if he were in charge at Arsenal, he would choose Watkins over Jesus, considering the former to be a superior player in terms of fit for Arsenal’s needs.
Despite Gallas’ strong endorsement, the prospect of Watkins leaving Aston Villa this summer seems unlikely. Watkins has shown no intention of departing the club, especially after such a successful season.
Moreover, it would likely require a substantial offer from Arsenal to convince Villa to part with their star striker, particularly given that the transfer window is nearing its close.
While Watkins would undoubtedly be a valuable addition to Arsenal, the reality is that securing his transfer within the limited time remaining in the window would be extremely difficult.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may need to focus on more attainable targets who are open to a transfer move, rather than pursuing a player like Watkins, who appears content at Villa and whose transfer would require significant financial and logistical effort.
