A boyhood Arsenal fan, Watkins would no doubt be interested in the move, but with Jhon Duran swapping Villa Park for Saudi Arabia, a deal does seem unlikely. However, in case Villa’s hand is forced and the 28-year-old does get his dream transfer, here are just three possible ways Mikel Arteta could set his team up with a new striker in the ranks.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "Things are going well. We won the last four games in the Champions League and winning in this competition is very demanding. "But overall the team has been very consistent,

Arsenal had to go down their transfer pecking order before deciding to launch a bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins according to former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit

Arsenal have made a bid for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins as they look to land a striker in the final days of the transfer window - but Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery have remained tight lipped

"PSR has changed everything. It's a bigger decision now." European football expert Julien Laurens added: "I think Arsenal looked at other potential signings like Benjamin Sesko at Leipzig. "I guess maybe towards the end you see clubs who are are more open too, as we saw with the bid for Jhon Duran.

Former Arsenal midfielder, Emmanuel Petit, has wondered why the Gunners have not made any move to sign either Alexander Isak or Victor Osimhen this January. The Gunners have reportedly tabled a £60million bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins a few days ago,

Fourteen in the Bundesliga last term is no great shakes either, but they came at a rate of one every 109 minutes, with a goal every 125 minutes across his whole RB Leipzig spell significantly better than the records of Havertz (229 mins per goal), Gabriel Jesus (210) and any other option Arteta has to call upon.

COMMENT: Arsenal should turn their attention to a former target in the final four days of the transfer window.

Arsenal transfer news and opinion as football.london brings you a lowdown on the latest January transfer window

Arsenal may have to break the bank to sign Ollie Watkins before the January transfer window closes as reports suggest Aston Villa have revealed their huge asking price for the striker.

Arsenal would ‘prefer’ to sign two alternative strikers to Ollie Watkins but have ‘panicked’ in the final week of the transfer window, according to former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit. The north London club are considering making a second offer for England international Watkins after seeing their opening £60m bid rejected by Aston Villa.