Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emi Martinez believes his teammate Ollie Watkins deserves to win Premier League player of the season for his impressive performance leading the charge for the team. Watkins' 19th league goal secured a 2-0 win against Arsenal, boosting Villa's chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Martinez praises Watkins' 19 goals and 10 assists, stating that he should be considered for the award despite not playing for a "big six" club.
Aston Villa's Martinez Champions Watkins for Premier League Player of the Season
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has heaped praise on his teammate Ollie Watkins, calling for him to be recognized as the Premier League player of the season. Watkins' exceptional performances have played a pivotal role in Villa's quest for Champions League qualification.
Watkins' 19th league goal, scored against Arsenal on Saturday, propelled Villa to a 2-0 victory, solidifying their position in the top half of the table. Martinez hailed Watkins' contributions, which also include 10 assists, emphasizing that his performance should merit the highest accolade despite not playing for a traditional "big six" club.
"Ollie Watkins should be in the running for the player of the season," Martinez said. "He's got 19 goals and 10 assists. He's leading the line for us, and he's doing it for a team that's not in the top six."
Watkins' rise to prominence has been a remarkable journey. After starting his career in non-league football, he joined Brentford in 2018 and helped them secure promotion to the Premier League in 2020. Villa signed him the following year, and he has since become a key player for the Birmingham-based club.
Top 5 FAQs on Ollie Watkins and Aston Villa:
Ollie Watkins is a 26-year-old English striker who plays for Aston Villa. He began his career in non-league football and rose through the ranks to become a Premier League player.
Watkins has been in sensational form this season, scoring 19 goals and providing 10 assists in the Premier League. He is currently joint-fifth in the Golden Boot race.
Martinez feels that Watkins' exceptional goal contributions should be recognized, despite the fact that Villa are not part of the traditional "big six" clubs.
Villa are currently ninth in the Premier League, eight points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place. They still have a mathematical chance of securing a top-four finish, but it would require a significant swing in form.
In addition to Watkins, key players for Villa this season include goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, captain Tyrone Mings, playmaker Philippe Coutinho, and winger Leon Bailey.
After a disappointing loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool are reportedly eyeing Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, should the current Reds player depart for Real Madrid. With Kimmich having excelled as a defensive midfielder and even taking on the captain's armband, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on the situation and may make a move in the upcoming January transfer window.
In a recent interview, FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal expressed his excitement for the Spanish Super Cup final after scoring a crucial goal in the semifinals against Athletic Club. The 17-year-old had just returned from an ankle injury and was instrumental in securing his team's spot in the final. He also shared his happiness in seeing teammates Dani Olmo and Pau Victor being cleared to play and hopes they will join him in the final against either Real Madrid or RCD Mallorca.
In a thrilling semifinal match against Athletic Club, Barcelona secures its place in the Spanish Super Cup finals. A long pass from Raphinha leads to a chance for Athletic to score, but a timely intervention from goalkeeper Simon denies them. Subscribers of Sportstar can catch the highlights of the intense match at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Despite Barcelona missing key player Dani Olmo, whose playing license was revoked, young talents Gavi and Yamal stepped up to secure a 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semifinals. Olmo was temporarily cleared to play, but unfortunately not in time for the game. Barca's opponent in the final will be determined in the match between Real Madrid and Mallorca, with the outcome being held in Saudi Arabia. Barca coach Hansi Flick expressed his joy over the decision to allow Olmo and Pau Victor to play again, and the players were also thrilled to contribute to the win and reach the final.
Following reports of a possible move for Osimhen, it seems Liverpool is also keeping an eye on youth international Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and facing a potential setback in their pursuit of Alphonso Davies. Meanwhile, there are rumors of a possible takeover by Elon Musk. On the field, Liverpool lost their second match of the season to Tottenham Hotspur in a League Cup semi-final, with an injury to Rodrigo Bentancur overshadowing the game. In other transfer news, Loris Karius may finally sign for a new club after leaving Newcastle United, with Schalke reportedly interested in him as a replacement.
Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong has raised doubts about his future at Barcelona, revealing that he may not stay at the club for the entirety of his contract. This admission comes as a surprise, given the player's constant assurances of his commitment to the club in the past. However, de Jong's revelation could signal a potential move to another top European club, as speculation surrounding his future intensifies. As he faces fitness and form challenges this season, de Jong's performance against UD Barbastro will be closely watched as he vies for a more prominent role in the team.
Young superstars Gavi and Lamine Yamal put on a show in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as they scored a goal each to secure a 2-0 victory for Barcelona against Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal. The team was unable to field Spanish playmaker Dani Olmo and Pau Victor due to delayed clearance, but it did not stop the young guns from shining on the field. This win takes Barcelona one step closer to lifting the trophy and adds to their impressive run of form under new manager Xavi Hernandez.
As the transfer window opens, Premier League clubs are already hard at work securing new signings and making major changes. Manchester United is looking to offload players and bring in fresh talent with Ruben Amorim leading the way. Meanwhile, Liverpool is fighting to keep key players as their contracts near expiration. Across the league, teams like Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also looking to bolster their squads for a strong second half of the season. Stay updated with all the latest news and rumors throughout the day.
In a rain-reduced match, New Zealand's strong bowling attack led by Will O'Rourke and Jacob Duffy proved too much for Sri Lanka as they collapsed to 142 all out, losing by 113 runs. Sri Lanka's top order once again failed to produce, with only Kaminu Mendis scoring above 30. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka acknowledged their poor play in the power play as a major factor in their loss. With a 2-0 lead in the series, New Zealand looks poised for a clean sweep in the upcoming third match in Auckland.
The transfer window has been open for eight days, but Manchester City have yet to make any signings. However, according to reports, they are considering a move for Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina to bolster their defence. With plenty of time for clubs to make their moves, the January transfer window promises to be an interesting one to follow.