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‘Has lit up the league’: Sky pundit raves about Arsenal-loving player who scores ‘proper No 9 goals’
A player who has declared the prospect of a move to Arsenal his “dream” has been deemed the standout player in his league by pundit David Prutton.
Brentford forward Ollie Watkins has been sensational for his side this season, weighing in with 22 Championship goals and three assists.
Bees boss Thomas Frank shifted the 24-year-old from out wide to up front in wake of Neal Maupay’s move to Brighton, which has proven a masterstroke.
Earlier this month, Brentford striker Ollie Watkins admitted that securing a switch to Arsenal would be his dream, in conversation with the . after winning the EFL Player of the Year gong at the London Football Awards.
After picking up the trophy, he was asked by Sports Gazette reporter Callum Room about a prospective move to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
“Yeah, the dream. That’s the dream to play for Arsenal one day”, Watkins . “But you know, it’s a long shot.”
Prutton named him ahead of Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips and Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, telling : “Watkins… deserves the credit for what he has done this season in terms of switching positions – from a wide player to a striker.
“He really has lit up the league and had so many excellent performances, and the type of goals he has scored have impressed me. He isn’t scoring the types of goals a winger playing as a striker would, they are proper No 9 goals.
“He is Brentford’s chance of getting to the Premier League, and you imagine he will be there one way or another soon enough, anyway.”
TBR View:
With Arsenal strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta could well be on the lookout for a new striker.
Although some quarters may prefer a marquee name from another top flight in Europe or elsewhere in the world, Watkins has certainly shown he’s a cut above in the second tier of English football.
The plaudits keep coming Watkins’ way and surely it’s only a matter of time before Arsenal move for a player whose dream is to play for the Gunners – and who has all the credentials to suggest he’d be a hit at the Emirates Stadium.