Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins has been named as one of four forwards that Arsenal have been scouting as they plan for the future without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners are reportedly keeping tabs on Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak, Lille’s Jonathan David and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, along with Watkins.
There are claims in Italy that the club are also very interested in Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic and supporters on Twitter believe that signing Watkins would very much be the worst of all possible options:
Nop, Vlahovic or nothing…
— Giñgér̃brèåd ® (@El_shatt_jnr) January 5, 2022
vlahovich should be primary target then J. David.
— ঔৣManishঔৣ✞ (@Kingmanny1010) January 5, 2022
No DCL is better
— Found The Next Hut (@foundthenexthut) January 5, 2022
When it comes to prem strikers, I would prefer DCL if I’m being honest. Ollie might turn out to be better than expected if we sign him but I’m just not feeling him as an Arsenal player.
— Reiner 🇵🇭🇸🇪 (@AFCReVi) January 5, 2022
No, better strikers out there.
— Michael (@MichaelCoward96) January 5, 2022
No please 🙏🏾
— Smith Rowe’s brother (@teshie_AbuRamal) January 5, 2022
Big no David clear
— AFC_bigboi (@AFC_bigboi) January 5, 2022
Don’t think he is as bad as some Arsenal fans are making out but still think there is better out there namely DCL and Isak
— Avi 🇿🇦 (@Aveshen08) January 5, 2022
I’m not trying to pay vlahovic prices for a striker who is inferior to vlahovic just because hes english. Sorry not sorry.
— ⚡ SHRIMP VIERA ⚡ (@shrimparm) January 5, 2022
Fans are right to point out that there are probably better targets out there to pursue than Watkins but the 26-year-old, who has been capped five times by England, wouldn’t necessarily be a bad purchase.
The striker has scored 21 goals in 56 appearances for Villa, which certainly isn’t a poor record considering he sometimes plays out wide. Whether he has the ability to lead the line for a team like Arsenal, though, is another matter.