October 16th 2024.
According to former England striker Emile Heskey, there is a Premier League striker who may have an edge over Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland. Heskey believes that Aston Villa and England's own Ollie Watkins could potentially surpass Haaland's incredible skills and achievements.
Before joining Man City, Haaland was already known as one of the best strikers in world football. However, since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium, he has only amplified his reputation with an impressive record of 52 goals in his first year and 38 more in the previous season. This helped Manchester City secure a historic treble and finally clinch the elusive Champions League trophy.
But despite Haaland's remarkable goal-scoring prowess, Heskey sees potential in Watkins to surpass the Norwegian's abilities. Watkins had three consistent seasons at Aston Villa before truly shining last season, scoring an impressive 27 goals in all competitions and helping his team secure a spot in the Champions League. His performances did not go unnoticed, as he was included in England's squad for Euro 2024. Although he didn't see much action due to the presence of Harry Kane, Watkins made a memorable impact by scoring the winning goal in the semi-final against the Netherlands.
Heskey shared his thoughts on the matter, stating that "I think Aston Villa have got the best striker in the Premier League after Erling Haaland in Ollie Watkins. There's an argument to be made that Watkins could be on par or even better than Haaland at this moment in time because of his all-round game and what he gives Aston Villa on top of the goals that he scores."
He went on to explain that at Man City, Haaland doesn't necessarily have to be involved in every aspect of the game, whereas Watkins has a more extensive role at Aston Villa. With his first season at City, Haaland broke the record for most goals in a Premier League campaign with 36. And with ten goals in just seven games this season, he looks set to break that record once again.
As for Watkins, he believes Aston Villa has a bright future under the leadership of manager Unai Emery. The team has enjoyed a promising start to the season, currently sitting in second place in the Premier League, just three points behind Man City. Heskey, who himself played for Aston Villa, has faith in Emery and his ability to bring home a trophy this season. He praised Emery's previous record of winning trophies, especially cups, and noted the incredible work he has done behind the scenes to structure the team and their style of play.
Heskey also expressed his admiration for the team's recruitment, particularly with Emery and Monchi at the helm. He pointed out the impressive performances of young talent Morgan Rogers, who has been a revelation since joining the club. Heskey believes that Emery can lead Aston Villa to a trophy in the next couple of seasons.
Speaking of influential players, Heskey highlighted Jhon Duran's immense impact this season. Despite often starting on the bench, the Colombian has already scored six goals in ten games. Heskey is impressed with his performances and is not worried about rumors of interest from other clubs in the upcoming January transfer window. He believes that Duran will not be leaving Aston Villa anytime soon, as the team sees him as a valuable asset and a key player in their future success. Heskey commended Emery for keeping the young player focused and hungry for more success at Aston Villa, despite potential distractions from other clubs.
In conclusion, Heskey believes that Watkins and Duran are two players who can lead Aston Villa to great heights this season and in the future. With Emery at the helm, he has faith that the team can compete for trophies and continue to impress in the Premier League.
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