William Gallas believes England’s latest Euro 2024 hero Ollie Watkins would represent the perfect signing for Arsenal this summer.

Mikel Arteta has so far focused his transfer efforts on strengthening his defence and bolstering his goalkeeping department.

David Raya has now penned a permanent contract, while a deal for Italy international centre-half Riccardo Calafiori is progressing at pace.

Arsenal missed out on the title last season by the narrowest of margins and given they now boast arguably the strongest defence in the Premier League efforts are now expected to made to improve the goalscoring department.

Kai Havertz’s form improved towards the end of his first campaign at the Emirates Stadium in a false nine role, while Arteta will hope Gabriel Jesus recovers from the injury struggles the impacted his influence during the run-in.

The Gunners have been linked with numerous forwards in recent weeks but were deal a blow earlier this summer when Benjamin Sesko opted to remain at RB Leipzig.

Gallas, however, the solution to Arsenal’s striker shortage lies closer to home in the shape of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

The boyhood Arsenal fan enjoyed his most prolific Premier League campaign last term and enhanced his burgeoning reputation with the winning goal in England’s Euro 2024 semi final win over Netherlands.

Gallas is confident the former Brentford star would represent the perfect centre forward to work in tandem with Gunners skipper, and creator in chief, Martin Odeegard.

‘For Arsenal, I like Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins,’ Gallas told Lord Ping.

‌’He has the pace you need to have as a striker and with a player like Martin Odegaard in behind him it would just be magnificent, think of all the assists.

‘‌It’s so difficult to defend against players like Ollie Watkins because he’s so clever with his runs, with Odegaard they would do so much damage. If I was at Arsenal I’d choose him.’
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