Former striker Gabby Agbonlahor criticized Arsenal for their £60 million bid for Ollie Watkins, which came just before Aston Villa’s crucial Champions League clash against Celtic.
Despite the offer, Villa secured a 4-2 victory, advancing to the last 16 of the tournament.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor voiced his frustration over Arsenal’s timing, calling it disruptive.
“The audacity of Arsenal—on the eve of such a massive game for Villa against Celtic—to submit a £60 million bid for Ollie Watkins to move sideways to Arsenal,” he remarked.
“I’m stunned. Villa fans are heading to the match in high spirits, yet both of our key strikers have had bids placed for them. How unsettling must that be for the players?”
He also commented on Watkins’ past admiration for Arsenal. “Yes, he mentioned in 2019 (or 2020) that playing for Arsenal was a dream of his.
“Look, it’s unsettling, but realistically, there’s no chance Villa will sell Watkins. Duran, on the other hand, is more likely to be sold due to his unpredictable nature.
“The manager won’t tolerate that. If Villa can get £75 million for Duran, they’ll likely let him go. But Arsenal’s timing is just off—who do they think they are?”