Dan Bardell reacts to Ollie Watkins’ apology and return to Aston Villa training, looking at whether there is now a route back for the striker, how supporters may respond and what his uncertain future could mean for Unai Emery as the transfer deadline approaches.
Ollie Watkins has apologised to his Aston Villa teammates and returned to first-team training, and while that does not suddenly erase everything that happened around the defeat to Brighton, it at least opens up the possibility of a way back into Unai Emery’s side.
Jacob Tanswell revealed on Monday evening that Watkins had issued the apology and was back working with the group, having been unavailable for the opening weekend of the Premier League season, when Villa desperately needed him and ended up suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
I hope that apology has also extended to Emery because, for everything Watkins has achieved at Villa and everything he has given the club over a long period of time, I think the manager deserved better from him.
Emery has taken Watkins’ game to another level since arriving at Villa. He has turned him into a more complete centre-forward, helped him become an England international and built an attacking system that has allowed Watkins to produce the best football of his career, so whatever has been going on behind the scenes and whatever advice he has received, ultimately he made the decision not to be available when his manager and teammates needed him.
An apology is therefore welcome, but it is also too late to change what happened at Brighton.
What it potentially does change is the situation ahead of Arsenal on Monday, because Villa need a centre-forward and, as things stand, there is every chance Watkins will still be at the club by the time that game comes around. Tammy Abraham’s fitness remains uncertain, while Brian Madjo will not be available, leaving Emery with very few natural options at the top end of the pitch.
Villa's performance at Brighton demonstrated exactly why Watkins has been so important to this team. It is not simply about his goals, because he gives you movement in behind, runs the channels, drops into deeper areas, holds the ball up and creates space for the attacking midfielders around him, and without a recognised striker there was very little movement ahead of Villa’s midfield once the promising opening ten minutes had passed.
Whether Emery is prepared to put him straight back into the starting XI against Arsenal is another question entirely and will presumably depend on how this week goes, but if Watkins remains at Villa I would expect him to be involved in some capacity.
The reception he receives from the Villa supporters may be considerably less straightforward.
There is a lot of anger towards Watkins and I completely understand it. Supporters have watched somebody who has represented the club brilliantly for years make himself unavailable at the beginning of a season when Villa needed him, and footballers perhaps do not always appreciate how something like that will be viewed by people for whom the club means absolutely everything.
I am not going to tell anybody how they should react if Watkins walks out at Villa Park against Arsenal. Personally, during the game I will support anybody wearing an Aston Villa shirt, although I would expect the reception to be mixed at best.
There is also some recent history which suggests relationships can be repaired.
Emi Martinez found himself in a difficult position with Villa last summer, was not properly involved in the build-up to the famous Crystal Palace game and ultimately found his way back into the side. Supporters gave him the benefit of the doubt and backed him throughout the season, despite everything which had happened around his future.
Watkins has built up a similarly substantial body of work at Villa. He has been at the club for years, scored huge goals, helped take Villa into Europe and generally represented the club exceptionally well, and I would like to think that counts for something if he genuinely acknowledges that he has made a mistake.
Tanswell made an interesting point when we spoke on the show, suggesting that much of what has happened has been agent-led and influenced by external factors. That provides some context, but Watkins is an experienced footballer and ultimately it is his career, his decision and his responsibility.
In my opinion, he let himself down, his teammates down and the supporters down by making himself unavailable.
That does not mean there cannot be a road back.
The transfer situation remains unresolved and if Al-Hilal eventually reach a figure Villa consider acceptable, particularly given Watkins’ age and contractual position, I still think Villa would sell. The fact they are actively considering other strikers tells you they are preparing for every eventuality.
If he remains at Aston Villa beyond the deadline, however, there is little benefit to anybody in allowing one very poor decision to completely destroy a relationship which has been built over six years.
Watkins has taken the first step by apologising.
What happens from here will ultimately determine whether Villa supporters are prepared to accept it.
