Arsenal's interest in acquiring Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa has ignited a thoughtful dialogue within the football community, particularly in light of manager Mikel Arteta's strategic direction for the club. As highlighted by Football365, the Gunners have recognised the pressing need to enhance their attacking options ahead of the transfer deadline, leading them to evaluate several potential targets before honing in on Watkins.
With key players such as Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka sidelined due to injuries, Arsenal's urgency to secure additional attacking resources became increasingly apparent. However, the club adopted a prudent approach, steering clear of hasty signings during the notoriously unpredictable winter transfer window. In the lead-up to the deadline, Arsenal made an initial bid of approximately £40 million for Watkins. Although there was contemplation of a subsequent offer for the England international, the club ultimately decided against pursuing the matter further.
Arsenal also considered other strikers, including RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, but neither was deemed a viable option for a January transfer. The Athletic shed light on the initial reservations among certain members of the Arsenal hierarchy regarding a move for Watkins, noting, “Arteta's preferred candidate, Alexander Isak, was simply out of reach. Enquiries around Benjamin Sesko, who Arsenal continue to follow closely, did not receive an encouraging response - RB Leipzig viewed selling their star player in mid-season as unthinkable. Having committed to a new contract in June 2024, Sesko was intent on seeing out the campaign in Germany.”
The prospect of securing Watkins gained momentum during discussions between the two clubs prior to their Premier League encounter on January 18. With manager Unai Emery needing to streamline his squad, it became evident that Aston Villa would likely need to offload either Watkins or Jhon Duran to alleviate ongoing financial pressures. Although negotiations with Al Nassr for Duran were underway, uncertainties surrounding that transfer led Villa to consider a sale of Watkins to Arsenal for a fee in the region of £60 million.
Arteta viewed this situation as a potential opportunity. While Watkins had not initially been on Arsenal's radar as a primary target, the manager recognised the importance of acquiring a proven Premier League goalscorer capable of making an immediate impact. Despite concerns that signing Watkins could jeopardise a potential summer move for Sesko, Arteta was willing to take that risk given Arsenal's urgent need for offensive reinforcements. While the 21-year-old Sesko possesses considerable potential, his future remains uncertain. In contrast, the 29-year-old Watkins is regarded as an experienced player who could significantly bolster Arsenal's immediate attacking capabilities.
Some dissent emerged regarding the substantial fee for a player approaching 30, with implications for resale value and long-term strategies causing concern among certain factions within the club. Nevertheless, Arteta's vision ultimately prevailed. Following the Villa match, the arrival of Josh Kroenke in London for a recruitment meeting underscored the club's commitment to pursuing Watkins.
As a lifelong Arsenal supporter, Watkins expressed his enthusiasm about the prospect of joining the club. On January 27, Arsenal's initial offer of £40 million was promptly rejected by Villa, as it fell short of their valuation. Although Arsenal aimed to submit a revised bid, the situation became complicated when Al Nassr shifted their focus to Duran, effectively stalling the potential transfer of Watkins. By the time Arsenal's interest in Watkins became public, the deal was already encountering significant obstacles.
As Arsenal gears up to face Newcastle in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, they are also set to resume their Premier League campaign against Leicester City on Saturday. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the club is still contemplating another bid for Watkins as the transfer window approaches its conclusion.