Posted by Alan Shearer, a legend with Newcastle United, has said that Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who Arsenal is reportedly interested in signing, is not a world-class number nine.
After nearly a year of speculation, Football Transfers recently reported that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have opened negotiations with Watkins’s agent.
Shearer stated that Watkins is not an elite player on the podcast The Rest is Football.
“He’s cool. He’s constantly eager to help, always looking for a way to sneak up from behind. However, Shearer opined, “I don’t think he’s a great finisher.”
I think his technique slows him down at times, but he consistently scores 10-20 goals per season, which is precisely what you need and expect from a Premier League striker.
I wouldn’t say he’s elite, but I’d put him in the next tier below that.
Watkins was traded to Aston Villa from Brentford in the summer of 2020 for an estimated £33 million.