Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has expressed deep disappointment over Arsenal’s decision not to pursue him on transfer deadline day. He revealed that manager Mikel Arteta’s decision ultimately caused the collapse of a deal that could have allowed him to fulfill his dream of playing for Arsenal. Despite reaching a verbal agreement, Watkins was left frustrated as the Gunners chose to halt their interest in signing him. His frustration stems from the belief that this might have been his best opportunity to join the club he has supported since childhood.
Reports indicate that Arsenal had initially considered making a second and improved bid for Watkins after their initial £40 million offer was rejected by Aston Villa. However, Villa remained firm in their stance, unwilling to sell the striker midway through the season. With Watkins being one of their key players, they were reluctant to let him go despite the strong interest from Arsenal. As a result, the Gunners ultimately decided to move on and not push further for his signing.
Watkins, who has been in excellent form for Villa, was hopeful that Arsenal would return with a new offer. Sources suggest he is devastated by the decision and fears that the club may not revisit their interest in him during the summer transfer window. Given his impressive performances, including 11 goals and nine assists in 33 matches this season, he had hoped his contributions would earn him a move to north London.
His standout displays in the 2023-24 campaign further highlighted his quality, as he netted 27 goals and provided 13 assists in 53 appearances. Such form made him a highly sought-after player, but despite his ambitions to join Arsenal, Villa’s reluctance to sell ultimately thwarted his dream. The situation has left him uncertain about his future and whether Arsenal will consider signing him in the next window.
Meanwhile, Arsenal made it clear that they would not be making any further signings on deadline day. Sky Sports News reported that the club had decided against bringing in any new players before the window closed. Respected journalist Gary Cotterill confirmed live from the Emirates Stadium that Arsenal would neither sign nor offload any players for the remainder of the January window.
Cotterill stated that as of 7:43 pm, there were no plans for any incoming or outgoing transfers at Arsenal. He emphasized that the club had opted to maintain their current squad for the rest of the season. This decision came as a blow to Watkins, who had hoped to make the switch before the deadline.
Despite missing out on Watkins, Arsenal are already planning a major signing for the summer of 2025. Reports suggest that manager Mikel Arteta is keen on securing the services of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams. The young Spaniard, who played a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, has emerged as one of the most exciting talents in European football.
Arsenal are reportedly willing to go beyond Williams’ release clause of €58 million (£48.2m, $59.6m) to finalize a deal. The player himself is believed to be open to the move, making it likely that the Gunners will focus their efforts on landing him in the upcoming transfer window. While Watkins’ hopes of joining Arsenal have been dashed for now, the club’s sights are firmly set on reinforcing their squad with top-tier talent in the near future.
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