Ollie Watkins

[Baldy]

Now that Tielemans and McGinn are back we are seeing a vast improvement in Rogers and Buendia.

In turn, Ollie is now getting a much better service and the goals are flowing.

Well done Ollie.

[rob_bridge]

Top notch today.

[Keeno]

The absolute perfect time to get into form.

Agreed - it was an absolutely outstanding, 10/10 performance. Two proper poachers goals, an amazing assist, perfect weight of pass, and he absolutely bullied both Sunderland centre backs to the point where they looked so thankful for him to come off.

You saw the all-round game he has - there are a handful of strikers in Europe that can do what he did today. It's always been upstairs with him - when he's confident he can be unplayable.

[Garyth]

I wonder how much the (nearly) 3 weeks off helped - instead of going away with England in the last international break.

People have linked his upturn in form to the non-selection, but it seems to me he's looks a lot more lively in recent matches too.

He's now only 4 goals away from 15, which would make it 4 seasons in a row and pretty respectable given the start to the season we/he had.

Assists have really dropped off, however.

[Dave]

He's now only 4 goals away from 15, which would make it 4 seasons in a row and pretty respectable given the start to the season we/he had.

Five away from twenty in all competitions too.

[Paul.S]

Goals aside, that was Watkins best performance in a long time. He was a pain for their defence all game with his movement and physically bullied their 2 central defenders. It looked like he played between the posts a lot more. He said that’s what Emery had told him to do when he first came. Surely he’s in the World Cup squad now.

[Smithy]

I didn't realise he was only 14 goals away from 100 in the Premier league.  That's a pretty exclusive club, and one you'd expect him to be close to joining (if not joined already) by the end of next season, IF he stays fit. 

There are a few ex-villans on that 100 club list. Yorke is the only one who scored a decent chunk of their goals for us, but the list also includes, Dublin, Bent, Heskey, Crouch, and Robbie Keane.  I hope he gets to 100 and joins that exclusive club.

Interestingly, Ollie's goals-per-game record is better than ALL of them.  It's only fractionally better than Bent's, but it's still better, just.

We're going to miss him when he's gone.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He is such a good header-er of the ball. Great positioning and instinct for the goals today and a lovely dink for Rogers's goal. Deserved a hat-trick, so close to getting it.

Yeah, it's easy to forget how good he is with his head, his positioning has always been his greatest strength, such a rare but important talent. He had a few chances to get the hattrick but it was not to be for various reasons. His confidence must be at a high and he actually looks like he's enjoying his football. He knows Tuchel can't ignore him and carry on like he is, neither will he.

[Brend'Watkins]

He’s looking as good now as when he was at his best. Seems to have got over that troublesome injury.

[Dave]

Only the second player (after Sadio Mane) to score double-figures in every season they've played in the Premier League.

Considering there have been quite a lot of good players over the last 30+ years, that's not too shabby.

[Toronto Villa]

If Tuchel takes Solanke over Watkins he’ll need to be sent to place with padded walls. Wellbeck as third option if needed as he’s had a very good season.

[Villan82]

I didn't realise he was only 14 goals away from 100 in the Premier league.  That's a pretty exclusive club, and one you'd expect him to be close to joining (if not joined already) by the end of next season, IF he stays fit. 

There are a few ex-villans on that 100 club list. Yorke is the only one who scored a decent chunk of their goals for us, but the list also includes, Dublin, Bent, Heskey, Crouch, and Robbie Keane.  I hope he gets to 100 and joins that exclusive club.

Interestingly, Ollie's goals-per-game record is better than ALL of them.  It's only fractionally better than Bent's, but it's still better, just.

We're going to miss him when he's gone.

Puts the ridiculous criticism some posters give him into perspective

[LeeB]

He is such a good header-er of the ball. Great positioning and instinct for the goals today and a lovely dink for Rogers's goal. Deserved a hat-trick, so close to getting it.

Yeah, it's easy to forget how good he is with his head, his positioning has always been his greatest strength, such a rare but important talent. He had a few chances to get the hattrick but it was not to be for various reasons. His confidence must be at a high and he actually looks like he's enjoying his football. He knows Tuchel can't ignore him and carry on like he is, neither will he.

Watching his 100 goals the other night, there's all manner of absolutely brilliant headers, quite a few where he outjumps defenders and the keeper at the back post from a standing position. The one at Bournemouth for the late equaliser is my personal favourite header, but overall I reckon the defining goal will be the 2nd at Arsenal, and already trotting off to the away end before it hit the net.

[Goldenballs]

Most PL goal involvements by English players in the last three seasons:

◉ 69 - Ollie Watkins
◎ 66 - Cole Palmer
◎ 59 - Jarrod Bowen
◎ 50 - Bukayo Saka
◎ 46 - Phil Foden

Considering he doesn't take/is shit at taking pens, pretty impressive.

[PeterWithesShin]