Ollie Watkins proved why he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League following Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday at Craven Cottage.
After a week where morale was well and truly taken out of the club because of big injuries, the players provided the best medicine on the field of play, and that’s a much-needed three points.
Ollie Watkins was the star of the show because it was his ‘clinical’ finishing, according to Unai Emery, that proved to be the difference in the win being delivered.
But the Aston Villa boss also spoke about how the England international was constantly ‘fighting’ with Fulham centre-back Issa Diop during the game, as he told BBC Sport.
There’s no doubt that Ollie Watkins got the better of him, but Unai Emery did admit there were times when he was ‘unsuccessful’.
The second goal from the 28-year-old was the best because he sold his counterpart down the river, before racing through on goal and dispatching the ball past Bernd Leno.
The Villa man even deserved a penalty because Issa Diop did foul him when he was about to pull the trigger to shoot in the second half, but the on-field referee waved it away.
Ollie Watkins and Issa Diop
“He worked it,” said Emery on Watkins’ goals. “It was a very top match for him. With Diop, he was fighting with him, sometimes being successful and sometimes not.
“When he had the opportunities to try to create chances or being in their box, he was clinical and really amazing.”
Ollie Watkins pushing for a Euro 2024 spot
If Gareth Southgate doesn’t select Watkins for Euro 2024, then he will be bang unlucky, and in truth, it would be pretty stupid.
This is the former Brentford man at his absolute best. No English players, in terms of numbers and performances, is touching him in the Premier League this season. He is even bettering Erling Haaland in certain departments.
It’s not just the goals that Watkins is dishing out, it’s the 12 assists to boot. There is every chance, he finishes the season with 20+ goals and 20+ assists, which would just be incredible.
Even if he doesn’t hit those numbers, he is certainly going to get close to them and Southgate simply can’t ignore it.
