Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is determined to break new ground this season after a recent surge in form has silenced his critics. Having netted four goals in his last three matches, including a goal against Nottingham Forest, a brace against Chelsea, and a consolation strike against Arsenal, Watkins now has seven Premier League goals to his name.
At 30 years old, Watkins has demonstrated resilience, responding strongly after a slow start to the campaign that had some fans calling for him to lose his spot in the starting lineup. Since December, Watkins has matched the league’s joint-highest goal tally, scoring six goals in that period.
Comparing this season to last, Watkins trails by just one goal after 20 matches; last term he had scored nine goals in that span and ended the season with 19 Premier League goals. This consistency fuels his belief that he can become the first Aston Villa player to reach the 20-goal milestone.
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“I tend to go through these little runs,” said Watkins after Villa’s victory over Forest. “We have many games left to play, and 20 goals is always the target. I believe I can reach it. Once the goals start coming, momentum builds, which benefits both me and the team.”
Reflecting on his early-season struggles, he added, “My start was slow, and if I had begun like I did two seasons ago, who knows where we’d be now? But that time is behind me. The focus is on the future, with plenty of opportunities ahead. I’m confident in myself and in the team.”
In addition to his scoring ambitions, Watkins reached a significant personal milestone by making his 250th appearance for Aston Villa on Saturday, a feat only matched by teammates John McGinn and Ezri Konsa.
“To reach 250 games for a club as significant as Villa is a proud achievement,” Watkins said. “Scoring on my milestone match makes it even more special. I hope there are many more to come.”
Following a setback against Arsenal that ended Villa’s impressive 11-match winning streak, Watkins helped propel the team back with a crucial victory over Nottingham Forest, maintaining their strong position among the league’s top five.
“Forest always promised to be a challenging match,” Watkins acknowledged. “They packed their defense in the first half, limiting our chances, but we kept working and managed to break them down and score. It was the perfect response after our loss at Arsenal.”