He’s wanted Arsenal transfer for his entire career, now he can help Mikel Arteta’s team win the Premier League

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Arsenal and Liverpool are preparing for a run of fixtures that could determine the outcome of the Premier League title race.

The Gunners currently sit seven points behind their Merseyside counterparts, with 13 games remaining.

However, Liverpool’s dramatic draw with Everton last week appears to have somewhat shifted the momentum in the battle for silverware, with the Reds producing a nervy display at Anfield against Wolves on Sunday.

If Arsenal are to overhaul Arne Slot’s side, then they’ll probably need them to drop points in at least one of their next three fixtures.

Ollie Watkins can help Arsenal’s title hopes when he plays Liverpool this week

Liverpool have more difficult fixtures left to play than Arsenal, although the schedule eases up for the north-west outfit after their next three matches.

They travel to Villa Park and the Etihad in their next two, before hosting Newcastle at Anfield, while Arsenal have to play Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea in the coming weeks.

Aston Villa await Liverpool on Wednesday night, in front of what will be a buoyant crowd hoping to maintain their unbeaten record at home, which extends to Arsenal’s win over Unai Emery’s side back in August.

Cody Gakpo has been ruled out for the Reds, making what was already a difficult task more challenging.

However, Liverpool’s primary concern defensively will be dealing with live wire Ollie Watkins.

The English striker is Villa’s top scorer this season, scoring eleven league goals this term.

His relentless movement and ability to harass the centre-backs he’s up against will cause issues for the likes Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, and this will be Emery’s team’s best route to taking points off the league’s pace setters.

Arsenal will hope Watkins is at his best and that he is provided the service he requires from the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers, with this game crucial in intensifying the Gunners title hopes ahead of their next game against West Ham.

The North Londoners will be playing catch up after this fixture, as it’s been moved forward from mid-March due to Liverpool’s involvement in the Carabao Cup final.

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Ollie Watkins is a boyhood Arsenal fan and almost signed in January

Watkins may have some additional motivation driving him on on Wednesday night.

It’s well documented that Watkins is a boyhood Arsenal fan, and has publicly expressed his desire to complete a move to N5 in the past.

This deal almost materialised in January, when the Gunners were in the market for a striker at the eleventh hour of the window.

Arsenal made a £40 million bid for Watkins, which was swiftly rejected by Villa, and no follow up bid was ever made.

While the 29-year-old will be disappointed he didn’t quite earn his dream move, he’ll still be desperate to boost Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title and thwart Liverpool on Wednesday.

In the midst of Villa’s top four celebrations last May, Watkins was pictured in the background with a devastated look on his face, as the achievement for the West Midlands side coincided with Arsenal no longer being capable of winning the league.