EPL: He’s not elite – Alan Shearer warns Arsenal over signing forward

Forum 7 months ago

EPL: He’s not elite – Alan Shearer warns Arsenal over signing forward

Newcastle United legend, Alan Shearer, has suggested that Arsenal target and Aston Villa player Ollie Watkins is not a world-class number nine.

Arsenal have been linked with Watkins for close to a year, with Football Transfers recently claiming that Mikel Arteta’s side have initiated talks with the forward’s agent.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer said Watkins is not an elite player.

“I like him. He’s certainly very willing, always going to try and get in behind. But, I don’t think he’s a great finisher,” Shearer said.

“I think sometimes his technique lets him down but he’s always going to get you in between 10 and 20 goals in a season, which, for a Premier League club, that is exactly what you need and what you want.”

“I don’t think he is elite but I think he’s certainly in that next level down.”

Watkins joined Aston Villa from Brentford in a potential £33 million deal in the summer of 2020.