Manchester City v Aston Villa: Premier League – are living

“Poor Ollie Watkins.” So starts Kieran McKintosh’s electronic mail. “Clearly Unai Emery didn’t read Point 3 of the latest Talking Points article. Hopefully Watkins gets subbed on in minute 65 or so and rips it up again. He was a joy to watch last week, and a very likeable player.”

So for those who ignored it, right here’s what Barney Ronay needed to say …

Ollie Watkins has some degree. What is the suitable reaction to shedding your beginning position in a workforce you helped power into the Champions League, to a mortgage participant who has one objective in 9 league video games? Watkins mentioned he used to be “furious” and – additionally, simply to be transparent – “angry” after being changed by way of Marcus Rashford in assault for the high video games in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain. He performed love it in opposition to Newcastle, scoring after 23 seconds, his 15th of the season within the league, and hitting the woodwork two times. Unai Emery made the completely proper level in victory that soccer is a squad sport and Watkins an improbable workforce participant. But he’s additionally 30 this 12 months, Villa’s easiest ahead and would slot properly into the primary XIs of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. Maybe don’t make him too offended.