Ollie Watkins is a real contender to be Premier League player of the season
He has scored 19 goals and laid on 10 assists in the league – the best return for an Aston Villa striker in more than 40 years
By Ben McAleer for WhoScored
Some younger Aston Villa fans would be forgiven for not being aware of Peter Withe’s career. Withe was the last player to score 20 league goals in a season for the club, doing so in 1980-81, the last time Villa won the top flight. Withe’s goalscoring record has stood for more than 40 years but is likely to be broken before the season is out.
Ollie Watkins scored his 19th league goal of the season on Sunday at the Emirates, potentially putting a nail in the coffin of Arsenal’s title challenge. Arsenal are just two points behind the leaders with six games to play, but the Manchester City juggernaut is relentless. This time last season they put together a run of 12 wins to secure the title, the first stage of a treble they are keen to repeat this year. Given how City are playing – they have not lost since their defeat at Villa Park in December – Watkins’ late strike on Sunday was a huge blow for Arsenal’s hunt for silverware.
