Aston Villa's pursuit of a coveted Champions League spot may have received its most significant boost yet, not from a new signing, but from the rediscovered scoring touch of striker Ollie Watkins.
The Missing Ingredient Returns
Despite a remarkable 11-match winning streak earlier in the season, a familiar guarantee under manager Unai Emery had gone missing: consistent goals from Ollie Watkins. That crucial element has now emphatically returned. The England forward has netted four times in his last three appearances, transforming back into the serious problem for defences that Villa's rivals for the top four feared.
Before the recent clash with Nottingham Forest, Watkins had scored as many goals in his previous two games as he had in the 19 before that. A curious pattern saw his last five strikes all come away from home, including a brace at Brighton. His recent resurgence marks the first time he has scored in three consecutive Villa matches since April 2024, when he found the net against Brentford (twice), Lille, and Arsenal.
Silencing the Doubters with Numbers
The striker's return to form is particularly timely, coming after a period where there were vocal calls for Emery to drop him. Those suggestions overlooked the absence of another player in the squad capable of leading the line with his unique blend of attributes. His opener against Forest was his sixth Premier League goal since the start of December, a tally matched only by Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the same period.
That goal, assisted by Morgan Rogers, highlighted another key partnership. It was the 10th goal the duo have combined for in Villa colours. In the club's Premier League history, only two pairings have linked up for more: Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor (14), and Ashley Young and John Carew (14).
A Decisive Factor for the Run-In
The contrast with Villa's winning run is stark. During that 11-game sequence, which was ended by defeat at Arsenal, Watkins contributed just four of the 26 goals the team scored. With seven league goals from the first 20 matches of the campaign, his newfound consistency suggests he is well-placed to at least double that total before May.
A fully fit and firing Ollie Watkins could be the ultimate difference-maker for Aston Villa. His form is pivotal to their twin ambitions: securing a return to the Champions League via their Premier League position and challenging for Europa League glory in Istanbul this spring. His timely return to the scoresheet is the ingredient that could make those dreams a reality.
