Aston Villa may actually have the Premier League’s best player this season

With Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City vying for the Premier League title, much of the discussion about the Player of the Season battle has focused on Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, Rodri, Phil Foden and now Kai Havertz.

But perhaps the best player in the Premier League this season is playing for another top-four team, Aston Villa. Because Ollie Watkins is probably in a league of his own when it comes to evaluating a player’s overall impact on a team.

Watkins has been one of the best strikers in European football this season and will arguably replace Harry Kane as the world’s most complete No. 9 in 2023/24.

With Watkins’ 19 goals and 12 assists, Aston Villa has a firmer grip on the Premier League’s fourth and final Champions League qualification.

Watkins has excelled against all types of opposition, consistently scoring goals while creating chances at an elite playmaker level in Europe’s most competitive league.

Aston Villa has a strong squad and other top attacking players such as former Bayer Leverkusen winger duo Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby.

But there is no doubt that this team belongs to Ollie Watkins. If you took Havertz, Foden, Salah or any of the other big names in Player of the Season voting out of their teams, the drop would certainly not be as dramatic as removing Watkin from Aston Villa His contribution to 30+ goals was so great.

Unai Emery and Aston Villa have written one of the best stories in European football this season, a continuation of their somewhat unexpected bid to qualify for the Division One in 2022/23.

Aston Villa are becoming a truly impressive team in the Premier League and across European football, and the brilliance of Ollie Watkins lies in the elegant binding of this book.