Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins has boldly declared his ambition to become the first player in the club's history to score 20 Premier League goals in a single season, following a decisive return to form.
From Slow Start to Goal Surge
The 30-year-old England international opened the scoring in Villa's recent victory over Nottingham Forest, marking his fourth goal in just three matches. This purple patch, which included a brace at Chelsea and a consolation against Arsenal, has effectively silenced early-season critics who had questioned his place in the starting line-up.
Watkins now has seven league goals for the campaign. Interestingly, he has scored six goals since December, a tally jointly the best in the division over that period. His total after 20 matches is just one shy of his haul at the same stage last season, when he finished with 16 goals.
Confidence in Chasing History
Despite a slower start compared to the 2023/24 season—where he had nine goals after 20 games on his way to 19—Watkins' self-belief remains unshaken. "I always go on these little runs," he admitted after the Forest win. "We still have a lot of games to go. I always get into double figures for the season but 20 goals is always the target and I believe I can do that."
He acknowledged his initial struggles but is focused on the future. "Obviously I had a slow start. If I’d had the kind of start I had two seasons ago, who knows what position we would be in now? But that has been and gone," Watkins stated. "With the players around me, I am always going to get chances so I can score that amount of goals."
A Milestone Appearance and Team Response
The match against Forest also held personal significance for Watkins, as it was his 250th appearance for Aston Villa, a milestone only shared currently with teammates John McGinn and Ezri Konsa. "To play 250 games for such a massive club is a big achievement," he said, proud to have marked the occasion with a goal.
The victory itself was a perfect response from Unai Emery's side after their 11-match winning run ended at Arsenal just days before. Watkins praised the team's character in breaking down a stubborn Forest defence to secure a win that maintains their strong position inside the Premier League's top five.
With his confidence restored and a historic personal target in sight, Ollie Watkins' resurgence is a major boost for Aston Villa's ambitions as the season enters its crucial phase.
