Arsenal wanted to be busy in the January transfer window, but, unfortunately, they couldn’t get anything done.
Arsenal wanted a new striker through the door in the winter window. Mikel Arteta said as much in a press conference at one point, and Arsenal did make some moves.
Indeed, Arsenal approached Evan Ferguson at one point, while Arsenal made a bid for Ollie Watkins last week.
Watkins to Arsenal was perhaps the most interesting potential move of the window, and speaking to Sky Sports News (3/2/25 7:00PM), Gary Neville has now been discussing what that potential signing would’ve looked like.
Gary Neville makes Ollie Watkins to Arsenal claim
Neville spoke about Arsenal’s failed pursuit for Watkins after a difficult transfer window.
The pundit claimed that Watkins would’ve been an ideal signing for the Gunners, noting that he definitely would’ve hit the ground running if he’d joined Arsenal.
“Yeah, absolutely, it’s a difficult window to do business and the type of striker who is good enough to make an impact for Arsenal would be a significant player and those players just aren’t available,” Neville said.
“They tried, we believe, well you’ll know better than I do about Watkins whether they made a bid for him. That definitely would’ve been a player that would’ve hit the ground running at Arsenal. You have to be a world-class player to think you can get into the Arsenal team as a number nine. Who is available now for them to go and get?”
Ollie Watkins stats after signing for a new club
Neville says that Watkins would’ve hit the ground running if he signed for Arsenal in January, but history would suggest that he’s not the fastest of starters.
Indeed, Watkins has played for three clubs in his career, and he’s not exactly been incredible from the off for any of those teams.
There’s around half a season to go in the Premier League, and, throughout his career, Watkins has taken around half a season to settle into his new surroundings.
| Ollie Watkins’ first half a season at Exeter | Ollie Watkins’ first half a season at Brentford | Ollie Watkins’ first half a season at Aston Villa | |
| Games | 24 | 24 | 19 |
| Goals | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Assists | 3 | 3 | 2 |
As Neville says, Arsenal needed a striker who was going to hit the ground running in the January transfer window, and Watkins may not have been that man.
Watkins is a very talented player, but even the best player sometimes need a bit of an adaptation period at a new club.
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