Aston Villa boss Unai Emery provides major Ollie Watkins update amid Arsenal interest

The England international has been subject of an offer from Arsenal but Emery had stated he is not for sale this month.

Jhon Duran is close to completing a £75million move to Saudi Arabia, increasing Watkins’ importance to the team.

Emery said: “He is happy to stay. You can ask him, but we asked him how he is feeling every day, every year he has been here with Aston Villa, with us and without us.”

He added: "We talked with him and he is very focused on the message we have."

Watkins grew up supporting Arsenal and it is thought the chance of joining the Gunners would be tempting.

But Emery is confident of the 29-year-old's commitment to the cause. Watkins has finished as Villa’s top scorer in each of the last four seasons and is again top of the charts this term with 10 goals.

Emery said: “The commitment of Ollie Watkins with us is a huge commitment, he appreciates a lot how Aston Villa was always supporting him, helping him, and when we joined him here two years ago, how we worked with him, always trying to get the best of him.

“Now we need him, like he needed Aston Villa. The conversation we are having usually, I am speaking with him a lot, he is always adapting to every circumstance we have in the squad and individually with him. 

“When there are some teams calling us being interested in the players of course it is very good for us and very good for the players. 

“Some players prefer to leave and some players accept to stay here, to be here and commit with us here and to be with our challenge. One of those is Ollie Watkins.”