TRANSFER NEWS LIVE : Arsenal get Ollie Watkins transfer approval as Aston Villa receive ‘out of character’ warning

Arsenal get Ollie Watkins transfer approval as Aston Villa receive ‘out of character’ warning

Arsenal signing Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins this winter transfer window ahead of deadline day ends has the approval of former Gunners forward Theo Walcott

For me, he needs to take a really good look at himself, if it can happen. But obviously, with Duran moving on, it’s going to be a little bit harder, and he’ll probably have to do something out of character, which is never easy.”

Watkins is the striker who Walcott wants his former team to sign. “He fits a lot of the way Arsenal play,” the recently-retired player said, “his playing style, his behaviour off the field, everything about him as a man and a player. He is very well experienced in the England set-up, he is an Arsenal fan as well.”

Walcott also believes Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson would be a “good option” but feels the Gunners would prefer Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. “I think they would look more at Liam Delap before Ferguson,” he claimed.

For me, he needs to take a really good look at himself, if it can happen. But obviously, with Duran moving on, it’s going to be a little bit harder, and he’ll probably have to do something out of character, which is never easy.”

Watkins is the striker who Walcott wants his former team to sign. “He fits a lot of the way Arsenal play,” the recently-retired player said, “his playing style, his behaviour off the field, everything about him as a man and a player. He is very well experienced in the England set-up, he is an Arsenal fan as well.”

Walcott also believes Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson would be a “good option” but feels the Gunners would prefer Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. “I think they would look more at Liam Delap before Ferguson,” he claimed.

Ollie Watkins is reputedly open to joining Arsenal from Aston Villa (Image: UEFA via Getty Images)

Theo Walcott suspects Ollie Watkins will have to force Aston Villa into sanctioning a transfer to Arsenal if the striker wants to sign for the team he supports.

Watkins is reputedly open to joining the Gunners. football.london understands that there is a feeling Arsenal will return to the West Midlands club after they turned down the club’s initial approach before Wednesday night’s matches, despite the suggestion of Villa’s irritation at the timing of the move.

However, it is also football. london’s understanding that Unai Emery’s team consider it impossible to allow both Watkins and Jhon Duran to leave during the same transfer window. The Colombia international is reportedly flying to Saudi Arabia to finalise a £64million transfer to Al Nassr.

As a result, Walcott believes Watkins faces a difficult decision. “He probably won’t get another chance to join Arsenal,” the Gunners player-turned-pundit told the Irish Examiner. “You have got to think that in the summer, Arsenal may want to go for someone different.