Aston Villa’s great striker dilemma: Will it become a problem for Unai Emery in the future?
- Mayank Srivastava
- Jan 29
- 3 min read
Aston Villa and Unai Emery are currently facing a problem that every club and manager would love to have, a great striker dilemma.
Where top clubs in the Premier League, such as Arsenal and Manchester United, are in dire need of a consistent, goal-scoring no. 9, Aston Villa currently have 2 of them, in the form of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Durán.
The incredible duo of Watkins and Durán
Ollie Watkins has been Villa’s first-choice no. 9 since his arrival back in 2020, and rightly so.
The Englishman has been as clinical and consistent as a striker could be, recording impressive numbers season after season for Villa.
Since his transfer from Brentford in 2020, Watkins has registered 80 goals and 34 assists in 200 appearances for Aston Villa while registering 69 goals and 31 assists in 169 appearances in the Premier League.
It had been an easy decision for Unai Emery to pick Watkins as the first-choice striker for his team. However, after what we have witnessed this season so far, the decision doesn't seem easy at all now.
Jhon Durán's incredible rise this season has been an absolute delight for the fans to witness. The Colombian striker has been one of the most clinical strikers in all of Europe, often proving to be the game changer for Emery and Villa.
In just 29 appearances across all competitions, Durán has scored 12 goals, averaging a goal every 87 minutes. In the Premier League, the 26-year-old has scored 7 goals despite starting just 4 games.
Durán is averaging a goal every 89 minutes in the Premier League, as opposed to his fellow striker, Watkins, who is averaging a goal every 161 minutes this season.
Durán’s strong challenge to Watkins for the starting role
Ollie Watkins’ injury in September allowed the in-form Durán to get the starting role that he rightly deserved.
After a minor muscle issue, Emery preferred to start Watkins on the bench in order to give him rest and also to give valuable minutes to Durán.
With his incredible performance during this period, Durán appeared to have benched Watkins for the good, as it looked impossible for Emery to not hand him regular starts, seeing his spectacular form.
If it hadn't been for Durán's controversial red card against Newcastle United, Watkins might have had to wait much longer to get back in the starting XI.
Since then, however, the Englishman has maintained his starting role, while Durán has gone back to his super-sub role.
A big issue in the making for Aston Villa and Unai Emery?
The Colombian striker’s tremendous performance this season has made him a man in demand.
According to Football London, Chelsea and Arsenal are looking to sign Durán before the January transfer window closes.
The interest from these two clubs comes on the back of West Ham’s £57m bid for Durán, which was turned down by Aston Villa, as per reports from Sky Sports.
Durán’s increasing demand will create a problem for Villa and Emery eventually, as they will need to figure out a way of how they can hold onto a talent like him while having someone like Ollie Watkins around, whose presence will keep Durán in a limited role.
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