Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Emi Martinez, is adamant that his teammate Ollie Watkins deserves to be named the Premier League player of the season.
Watkins secured a crucial 2-0 victory against Arsenal with his 19th league goal of the campaign, further enhancing Villa’s aspirations for Champions League qualification.
Currently, Watkins trails behind Erling Haaland of Manchester City by just one goal in the race for the golden boot. Martinez expressed his belief that Watkins is a strong contender for the prestigious award during an interview with Sky Sports.
The 28-year-old striker has been instrumental for Unai Emery’s team, who currently sit in fourth place with five matches remaining, holding a three-point advantage over Tottenham, who have a game in hand.
Watkins’ goal tally this season matches the highest ever achieved by a Villa player in the Premier League era. Additionally, he is also joint-top for top-flight assists with 10. Martinez further emphasized his support for Watkins, stating that the striker should be crowned player of the season.
The goalkeeper highlighted that while players from the so-called “big six” clubs often receive more recognition, Watkins has managed to score 19 goals despite the limited opportunities he has had.
Despite Watkins downplaying Martinez’s endorsement, he remains determined to win the golden boot, an individual accolade that he is fully committed to achieving.
As a striker, his primary objective is to score as many goals as possible, and he is dedicated to contributing to his team’s success by providing both goals and assists to his teammates. Watkins has set his sights on claiming the golden boot title.