Ollie Watkins slams Simon Jordan remark and unveils 'top category' Aston Villa target

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has struck back at Simon Jordan after the talkSPORT pundit made a condemning remark live on air.

Watkins, the scorer of a terrific dink over David Raya in Villa’s stunning 2-0 win away at Arsenal on Sunday, has set a new target after levelling Christian Benteke’s record of 19 goals in a single Premier League season. The England international, also with 10 assists to his name, has more direct goal involvements than any other player in the English top tier this term.

But Jordan doubted Watkins ahead of the Villans’ trip to the Emirates Stadium, predicting the striker wouldn’t be of any trouble for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. This comment far from pleased Villa’s number 11, who set out to prove a point on the weekend.

“I put on talkSPORT on the way to training the other day and heard Simon Jordan saying that he’s not worried about me or Aston Villa causing Arsenal problems. It is nice to prove doubters wrong. Nice for him to eat his own words, really,” Watkins said in the mixed zone after Sunday’s victory.

The result had major ramifications on the Premier League standings, soaring the men in claret and blue three points above Tottenham Hotspur in the top-four race and causing a major upset in the title race.

Watkins’ consistent output has been absolutely vital to Villa’s success but he’s not done just yet, with another target set out before the season finale. “I want to score every game and I want to win it. I’ve got my eyes set on it,” the 28-year-old said when asked about the Golden Boot.

“Obviously Benteke’s scored the most goals in a season with 19 and I’ve equalled that today with five games left. I’m looking to get to 20 goals and once you get to 20 goals I think people start to really put you in that top striker category. That is something I’m working hard to achieve,” Watkins continued.