Unai Emery Faces a Dilemma with Ollie Watkins at West Ham
As Aston Villa prepares for their season opener against West Ham, all eyes are on the situation surrounding striker Ollie Watkins. The 28-year-old is set to be in the squad for the match, but manager Unai Emery has remained tight-lipped on whether Watkins will start or not. This uncertainty has left fans and pundits alike speculating on what Emery’s decision will be.
Watkins, who had an impressive Euro 2024 campaign with England over the summer, has been a key player for Villa. His last-minute winner against the Netherlands in the semi-finals helped propel the Three Lions into the final. However, Watkins did not feature in any of Villa’s pre-season friendlies and missed the trip to Borussia Dortmund last weekend, raising questions about his readiness for the upcoming match.
Adding to Emery’s dilemma is the absence of Jhon Duran, the only other striker in Villa’s squad. Duran also missed the entirety of pre-season after representing Colombia in the Copa America. While Villa’s goalkeeper Emi Martinez and England centre-back Ezri Konsa started in the defeat to Dortmund, the absence of key attacking options like Watkins and Duran has left Emery with some tough decisions to make.
Watkins’ performance last season cannot be overlooked, as he bagged an impressive 19 league goals. He is also Villa’s highest-ever Premier League goalscorer in games played in London, with 13 strikes in the capital so far. With 59 overall goals in the competition, Watkins is only behind Gabriel Agbonlahor (74) and Dwight Yorke (60) in Villa’s all-time Premier League goalscorers list.
Emery’s comments on Watkins’ availability for the season opener have added to the intrigue surrounding the situation. “He is in the squad but I don’t know exactly if he is going to play from the beginning, or if he is going to play some minutes,” Emery stated when asked about the striker. “I will meet him today or tomorrow morning and after my talk with him I will decide if he is going to play.”
The lack of depth up front is a concern for Emery, with Cameron Archer set to leave the squad and only Watkins and Duran available as striking options. Emery mentioned that Morgan Rogers has been used as a makeshift striker in recent matches, highlighting the need for Watkins or Duran to step up in their absence.
With the pressure mounting on Emery to make the right decision for the season opener, the question remains: Should Villa play Watkins from the start against West Ham? The answer to this question will likely have a significant impact on the outcome of the match and set the tone for Villa’s season ahead.
In Conclusion, Unai Emery’s dilemma regarding Ollie Watkins at West Ham is a complex situation that highlights the importance of having depth in key positions. As Villa prepares for their season opener, all eyes will be on Emery’s decision regarding Watkins and how it will impact the team’s performance.