Arsenal had to go down their transfer pecking order before deciding to launch a bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins according to former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit

Marrying his attacking and creative attributes together, Watkins’ off-ball running is also a key part of his wider contribution to his team going forward. Across the Premier League, he is one of the men most likely to stretch the opposition’s defensive line with his intelligent movement.

Arsenal have made a bid for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins as they look to land a striker in the final days of the transfer window - but Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery have remained tight lipped

"PSR has changed everything. It's a bigger decision now." European football expert Julien Laurens added: "I think Arsenal looked at other potential signings like Benjamin Sesko at Leipzig. "I guess maybe towards the end you see clubs who are are more open too, as we saw with the bid for Jhon Duran.

Arsenal would ‘prefer’ to sign two alternative strikers to Ollie Watkins but have ‘panicked’ in the final week of the transfer window, according to former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit. The north London club are considering making a second offer for England international Watkins after seeing their opening £60m bid rejected by Aston Villa.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "Things are going well. We won the last four games in the Champions League and winning in this competition is very demanding. "But overall the team has been very consistent,

Arsenal may have to break the bank to sign Ollie Watkins before the January transfer window closes as reports suggest Aston Villa have revealed their huge asking price for the striker.

Fourteen in the Bundesliga last term is no great shakes either, but they came at a rate of one every 109 minutes, with a goal every 125 minutes across his whole RB Leipzig spell significantly better than the records of Havertz (229 mins per goal), Gabriel Jesus (210) and any other option Arteta has to call upon.

Mikel Arteta has hinted that Arsenal are chasing Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins after reportedly having a £60million bid turned down. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

Arsenal's £60m bid for Ollie Watkins has been rejected by Aston Villa, with the Gunners set to return with an improved offer.

However, on day 29, Arsenal tabled a £60 million bid to sign Watkins from Aston Villa, but that offer was rejected by Unai Emery’s side. Arsenal are expected to make another bid for Watkins, and Mikel Arteta’s previous comments about the England striker explains why he’s so keen to sign him.