OLLIE WATKINS ASTON VILLA
What a difference a manager makes. Before Steven Gerrard was sacked by Aston Villa in late October, Watkins had managed just one goal in 11 league appearances. In his next 19 outings after Gerrard was given the boot, the Englishman scored 13 times. And the astonishing turnaround has much to do with Gerrard’s replacement: Unai Emery. The Spaniard left these shores in 2019, labelled a flop for failing to turn a floundering Arsenal into world-beaters. Another Europa League crown at Villarreal later, and he was back.
Keen to put a dreadful start to the season behind him, Watkins spent his World Cup break studying alongside Emery’s coaching staff, analysing the movement of strikers with whom his new boss had previously worked.
“I had a very good player in Edinson Cavani [at Paris Saint-Germain] – his movement was perfect to show him,” Emery revealed of the sessions. “Ollie is very open-minded.”
The Cavani Files soon did the trick. Watkins’ scoring streak included goals in five straight matches from January into February, and his blistering form took him into double figures for a third campaign running – something only Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane have matched since 2020.
“I’m loving it, there’s no denying it – all the boys are,” Watkins said of life at Villa in late April. “Since the new manager has come in, we couldn’t have made a better start. I’m trying to keep doing what I’m doing: scoring goals, assisting and helping the team to win and keep clean sheets.”
Villa were 17th when Gerrard left, above the relegation zone on goals scored. Emery’s revolution, spearheaded by Watkins, elevated them to an instant challenge for Europe. The pair appear to be a match made in heaven.
DID YOU KNOW? Watkins set a new record at Villa this term by notching in six Premier League away games on the trot. It also made the Torquay native the first player from any club to achieve the feat since Sergio Aguero at Manchester City in 2017.
32 KIERAN TRIPPIER NEWCASTLE
Remember Gareth Southgate getting pelters for preferring Trippier to Trent? He was ahead of the curve. Trippier and his talents are back at the fore: big-game nous, umpteen assists and more clean sheets than Gateshead Travelodge. SEASON HIGHLIGHT Did we mention free-kicks? A pearler against Manchester City in August set the tone for the Toon.
31 GRANIT XHAKA ARSENAL
Mikel Arteta’s dependence on the old shirt-tosser once baffled many Arsenal fans, but hey: trust the process. Vital in a rema
