Ollie Watkins

[London Villan]

A move to Arsenal today for Watkins is a sideways step. It won't be financially attractive like a move to the desert and we'd be able to compete on wages anyway. They are a fraction ahead of us, but over the last 3 seasons, we are pretty equal.

It might get Ollie an improved deal though.

[caster troy]

I can see why Arsenal bid for him, effectively giving us the choice between keeping him or Duran. We've made the right call there. No doubt part of it was just to please the fans and be able to say 'they tried.'

Hopefully this 'he's an Arsenal fan' thing is being overplayed. So was Harry Kane as a boy, didn't stop him from doing everything he did for their biggest rivals. I'd like to think Ollie is settled in the area and won't consider leaving as long as we are in the Champions League and he's keeping his England squad place.

[rob_bridge]

Yeah the please fans thing does have a ring about it.

As for being a boyhood fan, it really isn't that significant. Look at Grealish, look at Cole Plamer 2 clubs, I think Rogers is an Albion fan.

Don't get me started on Robbie Keane - he supported 5 clubs as a boy, coincidentally he went onto play for all of them

[KevinGage]

A point on his shot that was cleared off the line, that was very clever play, the chip past the keepers hip so even if he spreads himself he cant get a touch on it. Very nearly sublime.

I thought so too.

Don’t normally associate Ollie with finesse.

He’s more the willing workhorse.

[Bobby Boy]

Yeah the please fans thing does have a ring about it.

As for being a boyhood fan, it really isn't that significant. Look at Grealish, look at Cole Plamer 2 clubs, I think Rogers is an Albion fan.

Don't get me started on Robbie Keane - he supported 5 clubs as a boy, coincidentally he went onto play for all of them

Cole Palmer is a Man Utd fan isn't he?

Watkins  said in 2020 that his 'dream' was to play for Arsenal one day. At 29 he's running out of time.

We still can't sell him though...Not now, anyway.

[ez]

As Petrov said last night, if we want to compete at the top we have to say no we're not selling.  Or it was something along those lines.

[Smithy]

I can see why Arsenal bid for him, effectively giving us the choice between keeping him or Duran. We've made the right call there. No doubt part of it was just to please the fans and be able to say 'they tried.'

Hopefully this 'he's an Arsenal fan' thing is being overplayed. So was Harry Kane as a boy, didn't stop him from doing everything he did for their biggest rivals. I'd like to think Ollie is settled in the area and won't consider leaving as long as we are in the Champions League and he's keeping his England squad place.

Those last two are important.  I don't think his England place is under threat, yet (a goal and two assists in front of the England manage last night won't have hurt, but his misses might have done). But all it needs is a good season next year from players like Delap and Solanke, and it might be.  We're 18 months from a World Cup, and having played at the Euros and done pretty well, I'm positive making a World Cup squad is very high on his list of career goals.

Champions League football is incredibly important in terms of signing and retaining the best talent.  We need to go from being a club that people look at and go "Wow, Villa have qualified for the Champions League" to "Wow, Villa didn't qualify for the Champions League this year" - because then you become a club that can still attract and keep top talent if they think the odd year where you miss out is an aberration, rather than the norm.  We need to be in European competition every year, and the Champions League more often than not.

[LeeB]

A point on his shot that was cleared off the line, that was very clever play, the chip past the keepers hip so even if he spreads himself he cant get a touch on it. Very nearly sublime.

It was, but he had to improvise because his first touch was shite.

[KevinGage]

A move to Arsenal today for Watkins is a sideways step. It won't be financially attractive like a move to the desert and we'd be able to compete on wages anyway. They are a fraction ahead of us, but over the last 3 seasons, we are pretty equal.

It might get Ollie an improved deal though.

Based on recent history (and the history of the PL since 1992) you’d expect Arsenal to be operating towards the top of the table far more than Villa.

The CL campaign for us this season is a magnificent adventure. For them it’s the norm.

I could see why he - or any other player - might be tempted.

And for an offer north of £70 million I’d prob bite - depending on who we could source as a replacement.

With Duran practically out the door it’s unlikely to be this window, mind.

[London Villan]

Not in 2024. They are hardly a trophy-winning machine, one FA Cup in the last 5 years.

Not a chance we'll sell with Duran going anyway.

[Smithy]

Not in 2024. They are hardly a trophy-winning machine, one FA Cup in the last 5 years.

Not a chance we'll sell with Duran going anyway.

But like I said earlier, if Arsenal don't make the champions league, it's a story.  If Villa DO make the champions league, it's a story.  Until that is no longer the case, we won't be considered one of the "top teams".  Change like that doesn't happen in a year or two, no matter how good the seasons we have are.

If we get into Europe in each of the next five years, and the Champions League 2 or 3 times, then yes, we'll be at the same level, reputation wise.  Until then, we're likely to be perceived as a team punching above its weight, and in a bit of temporary form.  Regardless of what we see week-in week-out.

[ChicagoLion]

No idea why people are adamant he is not going, you do not know what is in the contract and what the player wants. So let’s stop this , he isn’t going anywhere.

He isn’t going anywhere.

How long have you been his agent?

[LeeB]

No idea why people are adamant he is not going, you do not know what is in the contract and what the player wants. So let’s stop this , he isn’t going anywhere.

He isn’t going anywhere.

How long have you been his agent?

He's not going anywhere this window mate.

[Dave]

Based on recent history (and the history of the PL since 1992) you’d expect Arsenal to be operating towards the top of the table far more than Villa.

The CL campaign for us this season is a magnificent adventure. For them it’s the norm.

Depends how far back you want to go to make it "the norm". Over the last three decades, sure. But in recent history this is only their second Champions League season since 2016-17

[ChicagoLion]

No idea why people are adamant he is not going, you do not know what is in the contract and what the player wants. So let’s stop this , he isn’t going anywhere.

He isn’t going anywhere.

How long have you been his agent?

He's not going anywhere this window mate.

How can you be so sure?