Ollie Watkins: Unai Emery explains how Arsenal target is reaching next level after latest Aston Villa heroics

Unai Emery has explained how Ollie Watkins has been adding to his game after scoring a brace for Aston Villa in their win over Newcastle United on Saturday.

Watkins added two goals in the second half to Jacob Ramsey’s opener as Aston Villa claimed a significant 3-0 win over another contender for European qualification. They have now reached the tally of 50 points and are in sixth place in the Premier League.

Watkins has been in sensational form recently, leading to a revival of links with a transfer to Emery’s former club Arsenal. He has now scored 11 goals in 2023, including five in his past four appearances.

Reacting to his first brace of the season, Emery told Match of the Day: “Yes [he was good in] both boxes. Our box to try and get a clean sheet again and of course in the opponents’ box to score. I think the performance now of Ollie is fantastic.

“He needs his team mates and they are very happy because he is very humble. He is every day trying to improve and learn more and that is the way I want everybody to be. He is a very good example.

“He is adding a lot of things and I think he has always scored but he is now understanding a little bit more to understand how he can attack the spaces, when he has to drop to get the ball and set the ball.

“He is understanding everything as a striker and he is scoring because he is feeling very [happy].”

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There is a growing feeling that the 27-year-old might be able to aim higher with his career, but with the way Villa have been getting results, that could easily be with them.

Indeed, European qualification has now become a possible target for Emery’s side.

The manager said: “Yes the first target was to escape the bottom, we did, the next was to get in the top half, we are. We are being very demanding to add a new target to be in the top six but of course we are going to face the teams that are now fighting for that.

“Today we showed and we believe with our supporters we can do that.”

Ferdinand tips Ollie Watkins for England call up

Meanwhile, BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand has backed Watkins to make it into the next England squad.

The former Brentford frontman has seven international caps to his name, but the last of those came over 12 months ago.

According to Ferdinand, though, he deserves to be in Gareth Southgate’s selection next time around.

Ferdinand told BT: “I think he’s a fabulous, fabulous player… he works hard and he’s always striving to improve.

“On form, he can’t not be in the England squad. If he doesn’t get in, I’ll be curious to know who gets in above him.”