Arsenal finally ended their long search for a new striker in this summer transfer window.
Indeed, Viktor Gyokeres joined the Gunners over the summer, and Gyokeres has already been tipped for big things.
However, before signing Gyokeres, Arsenal had a number of striker targets in their sights.
Benjamin Sesko was linked to Arsenal, while Arsenal bid for Ollie Watkins in January.
Arsenal made an offer for Watkins over the winter, and now, speaking on England’s YouTube channel, Declan Rice has reserved some special praise for Watkins.
Declan Rice praises Ollie Watkins’ shooting ability
Rice was taking part in a challenge where he had to rank his England teammates based on their stats on the upcoming FC26 video game.
The midfielder was tasked with ranking Watkins against the likes of Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke.
Interestingly, Rice put Watkins at the front of the queue, claiming that the striker’s shooting is a ‘joke’ on both his left and his right foot.
“I think Ollie might be first,” Rashford said.
“Yeah, Ollie first and Rashy second. Ollie’s shooting is a joke as well, left and right foot,” Rice said.
Ollie Watkins’ record vs Arsenal
Rice says Watkins’ shooting is brilliant, and that’s something that Arsenal fans know only too well.
Indeed, Watkins has been a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side in recent years.
Watkins has six goals in 10 league games against Arsenal, and some of those goals have come at vital moments that have cost Arsenal dearly in title races.
As the old saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them, and that’s precisely what Arsenal tried to do with Watkins in January.
Aston Villa stood firm in January and kept hold of Watkins, and now, he’ll be eyeing up another Champions League charge this season with the Villans, despite a slow start to the campaign so far.
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