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Arsenal made a surprise bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins on Wednesday, prompting criticism from Agbonlahor who compared it to their failed attempt to sign Luis Suarez.
Former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor has reignited the debate over Arsenal’s recent bid for Ollie Watkins, drawing comparisons to their infamous failed attempt to sign Luis Suarez in 2013. Agbonlahor claims that Arsenal’s current offer is an attempt to appease their fanbase, who have been clamoring for a striker to boost the club’s Premier League title hopes.
Agbonlahor, speaking on talkSPORT, criticized the timing and nature of Arsenal’s bid, which came late in the transfer window and was swiftly rejected by Villa. “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?”
The comparison to the Suarez saga is particularly poignant. In 2013, Arsenal famously made a £40 million plus £1 bid for the Liverpool striker, only to discover that a release clause did not exist. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted that the offer seemed “ludicrous” at the time.
Agbonlahor believes that Arsenal’s current bid for Watkins is similarly misguided and driven by a desire to placate frustrated fans rather than a well-thought-out transfer strategy. “Arsenal fans have long called for the club to invest in a striker to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s side,” Agbonlahor added. “But launching a bid this late in the window seems more like a panic move than a strategic one.”
With the transfer window deadline drawing near, everyone will be watching Arsenal to see if they can sign Watkins or if they end up without him. Agbonlahor’s comments serve as a reminder of the challenges and pressures faced by clubs in the high-stakes world of football transfers.
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