After a slow start to the season, Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins is thriving under Unai Emery and is unlocking the quality and potential in his game.
In 13 Premier League games prior to Emery’s appointment, the 27-year-old managed just two goals and two assists.
After 14 games under the Spaniard, he has registered eight goals and three assists, as he has relished the opportunity to be our main man up front and to lead the line.
READ MORE: In-form Villa ace showing his quality and thriving under Emery
While some questioned the decision, and fairly so at the time given the lack of depth we were seemingly left with, the call to sell Danny Ings and to subsequently put that responsibility on Watkins has paid off, and he has responded emphatically and deserves a lot of credit for that.
Ings was sold to West Ham on January 20, and Watkins has scored in all-but two league outings since.
It’s been an incredible run, but both Watkins and Emery have emphasised that the job is far from done yet, as we look to stay consistent, improve and continue to move up the Premier League table in the final 10 games and try to qualify for Europe. The Villa frontman is setting his targets high, and rightly so.
“It feels nice but I don’t want to stop here. I want to score every week. I want to get to 20 goals and then more. I know I can be more clinical. I’m still not content with where I am at. We’ve got a real understanding as a team now,” he is quoted as saying by the Athletic.
“The fans should be excited because we definitely are. There’s a confidence that we can see games out now whereas the start of the season we might have conceded. I want to score 20 goals and I want to get into Europe. I want to be playing every Thursday next season.”
The accolades and records continue to come Watkins’ way after our win over Chelsea at the weekend, as he’s now bagged double figures in goals in all three seasons with us in the Premier League, and while he currently sits on 10 for this year, he’ll be aiming to surpass his highest tally of 14 from the 2020/21 campaign.
Further, he’s now scored or provided an assist in eight of his last nine league games and he’s scored in five consecutive away encounters as he looks to make it six against Leicester City on Tuesday night.
With five goals against Liverpool, four against Arsenal, two vs Man City and one apiece against Man Utd and Chelsea, he also delivers in games against the top sides, but he arguably has never looked this confident and full of belief before in a Villa shirt.
Naturally, there’s still room for improvement as although he’s been significantly more clinical in recent months, he has had chances to add to his tally and he’ll be disappointed he hasn’t taken them.
Nevertheless, Watkins is not only producing a ruthless streak in front of goal, but his all-round game is continuing to improve. From his hold-up play and ability to link things together and bring his teammates into the attack, to his pressing and defensive work ethic, he is becoming a real presence and leading figure up top for us and long may it continue.