Ex-Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor compares Arsenal’s Ollie Watkins bid to their failed Luis Suarez offer – as he claims Gunners are appeasing fans

Former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed Arsenal have tried to appease their fanbase by launching a bid for Ollie Watkins late in the transfer window.

Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that the Gunners had launched a stunning swoop for Watkins ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is a long-term admirer of the England international and the club have now moved for the 29-year-old.

It is understood Arsenal have made an initial offer for Watkins which has been rejected but an improved attempt is expected.

Mail Sport revealed the Gunners’ move for Watkins on Wednesday afternoon and subsequent reports have indicated the offer was worth £60million.

Villa are understood to have been angered by Arsenal’s bid and do not want to sell Watkins.

Agbonlahor has claimed Arsenal have launched a bid for Ollie Watkins to appease their fans

Arsenal fans have long called for the club to invest in a striker to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s side

Agbonlahor had hit out at the timing of the offer on Wednesday, which came before Aston Villa’s crucial Champions League tie against Celtic.

Watkins scored in the 4-2 victory over the Scottish champions to seal a place in the last-16 of the competition.

Agbonlahor, who played for Aston Villa between 2005 and 2018, renewed his criticism of Arsenal when speaking on talkSPORT on Thursday morning.

He claimed the Gunners offer for Watkins has been made to appease a fanbase who have been desperate for the club to sign a striker to boost their Premier League title hopes.

Agbonlahor drew the comparison to Arsenal’s famous bid for then Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in 2013, then the club submitted an offer of £40m plus £1.

The Gunners ultimately discovered a release clause did not exist, something former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted mad the offer seem ‘ludicrous’.

‘It doesn’t matter what they offer, up it by £20-30 million to £80-90m, why are you going to sell Ollie Watkins,’ Agbonlahor said.

‘What do you do for the rest of the season now?

Agbonlahor compared Arsenal’s offer to their famous failed bid for Luis Suarez back in 2013

Watkins is a  boyhood Arsenal fan and has 11 goals for Villa in all competitions this campaign

‘Arsenal have had a month to put a bid in, they have left it late.

‘It reminds me of when they offered a penny more for Luis Suarez, they don’t really think they are going to get Watkins.

‘It is a bid to keep the fans happy for me that, that is what Arsenal have done.’

Agbonlahor continued by claiming that Watkins would be making a ‘sideways move’ if he were to join the Gunners.

Arsenal are currently second in the Premier League, 10 points clear of eighth place Aston Villa, while both sides are through to the Champions League last-16.

In 2020, while Watkins was still a Brentford player, the striker admitted he would love to represent Arsenal in the future.

Admitting he grew up a Gunners fan, Watkins said: ‘That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day. But, you know, it’s a long shot.’

Arsenal’s pursuit of Watkins is likely to have been complicated by Aston Villa agreeing to sell striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for about £63million.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery declared that the club would be ‘very demanding’ to Watkins suitors. 

Unai Emery insisted that he wants to keep Watkins at Aston Villa amid Arsenal interest

Arsenal’s pursuit will be made harder by Villa agreeing to sell forward Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr

‘I don’t want (to sell),’ said Emery. ‘For any deal we are going to be very demanding. Ollie Watkins is our striker.

‘There is a lot of speculation around our players but the most important thing is how they respond on the field. They are showing us they are mature and responsible.

‘You know my opinion on Jhon Duran. He is a fantastic player with great potential. I wanted him here, but what does he want? We are all different people with different objectives and we have to respect that.

‘If he is leaving it is because he prefers to go another way in his career. It’s good news for the club because someone is paying good money for him, after we developed him in the last two years.’