Arsenal target named Premier League Player of the Season so far

Cameron Smith

10 Mar 2024 15:18 GMT
4 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Arsenal transfer target Ollie Watkins has been named as the Premier League’s Player of the Season so far by ex-Aston Villa, Celtic and Chelsea forward Tony Cascarino.

Article continues under the video

Watkins, 28, has scored 16 goals and provided 10 assists in the 2023-24 English top flight campaign and he is the only player to have registered double digits for both metrics.

The England international is a long-term Arsenal target, with the Gunners identifying him as a possible new signing this summer.

However, Kai Havertz has proven himself through the middle in recent weeks and Aston Villa look set to qualify for European competition yet again this year, which may prompt Watkins to remain at Unai Emery’s side.

Regardless, Watkins has been highlighted as the best player in the Premier League so far this season by the aforementioned Cascarino.

What has been said?

Cascarino discussed his Premier League Player of the Season so far on TalkSPORT and admitted: “Phil Foden is now a complete player… but I still wouldn't have him as number one for Player of the Year.

“I think there are others in front of him, but he has grown and now he’s got an absolutely certain position in that Man City team.

He continued: “Phil’s got the lot, and I’m always amazed by how he takes the ball down, how he controls it out of the air, his feet are like arms at times with the way he controls the ball.

“And his energy - if you watch Phil Foden, he nearly covers every blade of grass when he’s playing. He’s everywhere, he’s chasing, relentlessly getting back to help out players, he does that brilliantly, and that’s without all the brilliant stuff he does technically throughout the game.

“But Ollie Watkins, I think he’s so far been the most outstanding player in the Premier League so far this season,” Cascarino revealed.

© IMAGO - Ollie Watkins (left) with Douglas Luiz (right)

“He’s contributed so much to Aston Villa this year with goals and assists, and Villa are fourth at this moment in time because he’s played such a pivotal role.

“There are other candidates, of course. Virgil van Dijk is back to his very best at Liverpool, he’s been outstanding for them, obviously Foden is another one and you can certainly make a case for two or three of the Arsenal players as well - William Saliba has been absolutely sensational.

“But I’d still put Ollie at the top because Villa were not even close to being a top-four team just over a year ago and his contribution has been enormous."

Former Aston Villa striker Darren Bent also believes that Watkins is the outstanding candidate for the Premier League Player of the Season award.

“He'd certainly be mine, I think he's been outstanding," Bent said.

“The goals he's got, the assists as well, I think he's been dangerous and looks to be getting better and better.

“His record of 16 league goals and ten assists is crazy, and Villa are in the top four - he'd be my player of the year for sure.”