Mikel Arteta has hinted that Arsenal are chasing Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins after reportedly having a £60million bid turned down. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

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 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

Marrying his attacking and creative attributes together, Watkins’ off-ball running is also a key part of his wider contribution to his team going forward. Across the Premier League, he is one of the men most likely to stretch the opposition’s defensive line with his intelligent movement.

"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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Arsenal were persuaded to lodge a bid for Aston Villa frontman Ollie Watkins as they go in search of fresh firepower

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