Mikel Arteta has already told Arsenal why the Gunners should sign a striker who fans are desperate to see arrive at Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window.
The north London giants are currently in America for Arsenal’s pre-season tour. But Arteta is also in the market for a new centre-forward as he looks for the last part of a Premier League title-winning puzzle. Manchester City pipped them to the crown last term by just two points.
Arsenal have now finished as the runner-up in successive seasons and feel a new striker can make a crucial difference. Arteta could not rely on his existing out-and-out No9s last term as Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus only scored five and four goals in their 27 top-flight outings.
Mikel Arteta has already praised Arsenal target Ollie Watkins for his ‘tremendous consistency’
Several strikers have been linked with transfers to Arsenal for the current window as Arteta’s search for regular goals continues. One name that also has gained a lot of support amongst the Emirates Stadium faithful is Ollie Watkins with Arsenal huge fans of the Aston Villa jewel.
The 28-year-old has long been rumoured as a target, despite signing a new contract for the Villans until 2028 last October. Gunners sporting director Edu even put Watkins on Arsenal’s transfer shortlist in May, amid the striker firing Aston Villa into the Champions League spots.
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But Aston Villa are loath to lose Watkins, who is a self-proclaimed Arsenal fan, so would ask for £86m to sanction his transfer, per the Mirror. It is a lot of money to spend but Arteta has already told Arsenal why a transfer for Watkins would make a lot of sense amid their search.
“He’s been tremendously consistent over the last few years and he is a real threat,” Arteta said in his press conference before Arsenal visited Aston Villa in December 2023. “Just like with other strikers, [you] don’t give him the ball in the box. That’s his main quality.”
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Watkins remained a transfer target for Arsenal despite signing his new contract after scoring 19 goals in 37 Premier League games last season. The striker also gifted 13 assists as Aston Villa finished the campaign in fourth place to qualify for the Champions League group stage.
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Gareth Southgate also saw merit in Watkins’ skillset to take the Torquay native to Euro 2024 with England this summer. It proved to be a great decision, as well, as Watkins put the Three Lions in the final after drilling a precise shot home against the Netherlands in the semi-final.
He was only on the pitch for nine minutes before scoring at the stroke of stoppage time. The goal further convinced many Arsenal fans that Watkins is the striker Arteta should sign. And Arteta has already told Edu why the Aston Villa star can make the difference at the Emirates.
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