Arsenal failed with a January bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and the England international was leading the line as Unai Emery’s side moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals
After watching Ollie Watkins miss a big chance during Aston Villa’s FA Cup victory over Cardiff, Roy Keane suggested the striker wasn’t at the level required to star for January suitors Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s team saw a bid for the striker knocked back by Villa towards the end of the winter window, and didn’t return to meet their rivals’ valuation. The 29-year-old scored in back-to-back games after the window slammed shut, but has now gone three matches in all competitions without finding the net.
Championship side Cardiff kept their Premier League opponents at bay in the first half at Villa Park, staying on level pegging for more than an hour. Eventually, though, Marco Asensio broke the Bluebirds’ resolve with a match-winning brace.
Cardiff keeper Ethan Horvath was named player of the match by broadcasters ITV, having made a big first-half save when Watkins ran through on goal. During the half-time break, though, Keane argued Watkins’ failure to score is a sign he’s not quite at the highest level.
“It’s just the decisions when you’re in the box, because I think that he had enough time,” Keane’s fellow pundit Ian Wright said. “You can clip that over the trailing leg, because… when you’re doing your football training, you know you’ve got to lift something, because if you try and place it you’ve got to be so accurate…”
“I like Watkins, I think he’s a really good player, I think he’s a threat, but maybe this is his level,” Keane replied. “I know he’s been linked with other clubs, but sometimes you go ‘maybe you’re not going to be that top, top striker’.”
When asked by anchor Mark Pougatch whether that first-half miss was the difference between a very goodstriker and an elite, one, Keane said: “I think so. I’m sure he’ll get chances in the second half, and he might take them, but in those moments you’ve got to cash in there.”
Do you agree with Roy Keane? Have your say in the comments section
Watkins didn’t get his name on the scoresheet in the second period, but he was able to set up Asensio’s second of the evening. The win sees Villa become the first team into the hat for the FA Cup quarter-finals, with last season’s finalists Manchester United and Manchester City both in action later in the weekend.
“Now we focus on the Champions League,” Villa boss Unai Emery said as his side prepares for a trip to Belgium on Tuesday to face Club Brugge. “We are there and we have to enjoy it and compete. We are going to play Brentford next week. It’s a tough week but excited for us and supporters.
“We are not considered favourites to win this trophy,” he added after Villa reached the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time in a decade. “We are contenders but not favourites.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice.
Learn more
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £192 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
