Ollie Watkins’ astonishing miss during the first half of Aston Villa vs Arsenal in the Premier League was a “real mess” for the Gunners and showed a lack of “balance and poise” from the England international, former Three Lions midfielder Jamie Redknapp has said.
No English forward bettered Watkins’ tally of 19 in the top flight last season, making the 28-year-old seemed a certainty to score with only goalkeeper David Raya to beat from close range in the 24th minute at Villa Park.
Villa manager Unai Emery had started to celebrate but was left with his head in his hands after Watkins scuffed a low finish comfortably wide to the relief of the visiting defence and fans.
What a chance this could’ve been for Ollie Watkins 😨 pic.twitter.com/UCl6zaAR1U
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2024
Ollie Watkins ‘unconfident’
“Gabriel finds himself in a real mess and once he takes a touch, [Leon] Bailey’s all over him,” said Redknapp, analysing the move on Sky Sports.
“It’s not a foul. [Morgan] Rogers, who is magnificent, plays it to Watkins and it’s on a plate. It just hits his ankle and doesn’t give him the right connection.
“When you think about a player [scoring from there], their balance and poise is right – he’s a little off-balanced, maybe a little unconfident.”
Villa 0️⃣-0️⃣ Arsenal
First-half thoughts? 🗨 pic.twitter.com/fHA5PFBJRn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2024
Villa vs Arsenal chances
Arsenal had two of the three attempts on target between the teams before the break but accumulated an expected goals total of only 0.5 to Villa’s 0.42.
Villa had two more golden opportunities nine minutes into the second half when David Raya made a spectacular double save, denying Watkins from the rebound after diverting Amadou Onana’s deflected shot against the crossbar.
“How Raya reacts – wow,” former Manchester United captain Gary Neville told the broadcaster. “He comes from nowhere.”
The Villans severely dented Arsenal’s title hopes last season when they won 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on April 14.
Watkins scored their second on that occasion and went on to become one of the heroes of England’s run to the final of Uefa Euro 2024 this summer, scoring a last-gasp winner against the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
Emery’s side finished fourth in 2023-24 to seal Champions League qualification for the first time in their history, two places below Arsenal.
