Ollie Watkins continued to rise and prove his worth under Unai Emery following Aston Villa’s 3-2 win over Burnley on Saturday at Villa Park.
This wasn’t easy and Aston Villa rode their luck throughout. Given Burnley’s attacking nature, it always allowed the team to be a threat in behind the opposition’s defence.
Villa themselves like to play the high line, well, Ollie Watkins proved to everyone how it should be done because he was outstanding against Burnley’s attacking defensive line.
Martin Keown stated that the 28-year-old was a ‘nightmare’ to play against as he praised the improvement in his game since Unai Emery took charge, as he told Match of the Day.
Ollie Watkins registered two assists yesterday – and now he has the most of any Premier League player this season because he has taken his tally to 10 for the campaign, alongside his nine goals.
These are seriously strong numbers from the England international, who is proving why he is next in line to take Harry Kane’s place for England if the Bayern Munich star were to get injured.
Martin Keown explained how he has taken his game to the next level and why you just don’t want to be playing against him.
“You hear it in Emery’s voice, the belief he has in the player,” said Keown. “They got rid of Danny Ings when he came to the club and they have gone with this one striker.
“Some strikers need to know that they are the number one striker. He is that player. The intelligence of his movement now. His technique. He plays very central and doesn’t wander too much out wide.
“He always likes to attack in behind. He is a nightmare to play against. He is threatening all the time. He gives them that option. It’s really difficult to defend against because he drags the opposition defence all the way back.
“It’s the composure now. Runs across the pass. He is looking for that pass. He sees Bailey there, who comes onto this and hits the back of the net. They have that threat. He will run in there every time. He is more efficient in what he does.
“He has that pace (assist for Diaby’s goal). Checks his run. This is the composure bit. He is waiting for Diaby to get into position. Puts it across the box and tucks it in – he is massive for Villa.”
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa’s best player in 2023?
What a calendar year it has been for the team, with the fans and the whole club grateful that we have someone like Emery in charge.
But he couldn’t have done it without the players, who have responded to him very well and been immense throughout.
There have been many standout performers, but it could be argued that Watkins is perhaps the club’s best player in 2023.
If it’s not the £28 million Dean Smith signing, then it’s probably Douglas Luiz, who scored the late penalty against Burnley, because he was the fans and the Players’ Player of the Year for the previous campaign.
