Ollie Watkins etched his name into the Aston Villa record books on Saturday night, becoming the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer with his 75th league strike for the club against Bournemouth.
The England forward overtook Gabby Agbonlahor’s record of 74 deep into first-half stoppage time at the Vitality Stadium, glancing Morgan Rogers' cross into the far corner to seal a crucial 1-0 win on the road for Unai Emery's men.
Watkins has demonstrated a killer instinct in front of goal since arriving from Brentford in 2020, as well as an ability to provide for his team-mates, racking up at least 20 goal involvements in the league for the last three consecutive seasons.
His strike against the Cherries was the latest in a list of significant contributions for the Villans at the top end of the field over the past four and a half years, and here we take a look at some of his biggest, best and most important goals in claret and blue…
Goals 1, 2 & 3 v Liverpool – 4th October 2020
Ollie’s first Premier League goal for the club was significant in the sense it not only opened up his league account for the Villans, but was also the first of a remarkable hat-trick in an unforgettable 7-2 win over Liverpool.
Played behind closed doors at Villa Park as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, the game got off to the perfect start for the hosts and for Watkins, who notched his first Premier League goal in claret and blue with the match just four minutes old.
Jack Grealish pounced on a stray pass out from the back from goalkeeper Adrián, squaring for Watkins who made no mistake in turning home from close range.
But things would get better still for the 29-year-old, who went on to complete a first-half hat-trick, smashing into the top corner having cut inside Joe Gomez following a trademark run down the left-hand side midway through the opening period, before completing his treble six minutes before the break, heading in Trézéguet’s ball to the back post.
With a 4-1 lead established at the midway point, Villa kicked on further in the second 45. Ross Barkley netted on his debut, and Grealish bagged a brace – one of which assisted by Watkins – to cap off a memorable victory in B6.
Goals 5 & 6 v Arsenal – 8th November 2020
Having netted a penalty in a home defeat to Southampton, Villa then travelled to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal a week later, and were leading 1-0 heading into the final 20 minutes in North London.
Up stepped Watkins, with a quickfire double in the space of four minutes for his fifth and sixth Premier League goals for the Villans, tying up a tremendous 3-0 triumph.
72 minutes were on the clock when Ross Barkley sent the ball back across goal for Watkins to turn home on the goalline.
The points were then sealed 15 minutes from time when the visitors led a swift counter attack and Watkins fired through Bernd Leno to wrap up an impressive victory, as he made a blistering start to Premier League life in claret and blue.
Goal 10 v Arsenal – 6th February 2021
And Ollie would hit double figures in the Premier League for Villa in the reverse fixture against the Gunners at Villa Park later that season.
Coming just 73 seconds into the clash, the goal was the fastest of Ollie’s goals in the Premier League right up until he drew level with Agbonlahor's record of 74 after 33 seconds of our win over Newcastle last month, and was enough to complete a league double over Arsenal, by sealing a 1-0 win on home turf.
Bertrand Traore pounced on a defensive mishap to surge forward and feed Watkins in the centre, whose effort deflected off Rob Holding and in to secure the points.
Goal 17 v Brighton & Hove Albion – 20th November 2021
Ollie’s third goal of the 2021/22 season saw Villa leave it late to dramatically secure all three points in Steven Gerrard’s first game as manager.
With the score deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the final 10 minutes, up stepped Watkins six minutes from time to edge his side in front with the first goal of the former England midfielder's reign as Villa boss.
In similar fashion to his second goal against Liverpool, Watkins burst down the left channel and cut inside, firing a sweet strike into the top corner to spark scenes of jubilation at Villa Park.
Tyrone Mings swept home five minutes later to tie up a late victory and get Gerrard’s tenure off to a winning start in B6.
Goal 25 v Crystal Palace – 15th May 2022
Ollie hit a quarter-century of Premier League goals for the Villans with his final strike of the 2021/22 season, ending the campaign on 11.
After a goalless opening period at Villa Park, Watkins edged the hosts in front 21 minutes from time, finishing smartly from Lucas Digne’s inviting ball into the box.
The England forward thought he had netted the winner, but Jeffrey Schlupp stepped off the bench to drag the Eagles level nine minutes from time.
Watkins had notched 25 goals in his first two Premier League seasons in claret and blue, and there would be plenty more to come.
Goal 33 v Everton – 25th February 2023
After a slow start to the 2022/23 season which saw Watkins net just once in the first 11 league games, Unai Emery’s arrival in B6 brought about a revival for both Villa and their No.11.
And at Goodison Park in late February came a piece of history for the England frontman, as he became the first Aston Villa player in history to net in five consecutive Premier League matches.
John McGinn was felled by Idrissa Gana Gueye inside the area just after the hour mark, allowing Watkins to step up and send his effort straight down the middle from 12 yards out, to put his side in front with the 99th goal of his senior career.
And the points were sealed for the visitors nine minutes from time when Emi Buendía turned away from Conor Coady inside the area and squeezed an effort inside Jordan Pickford’s near post to double Villa’s advantage.
Goal 35 v Chelsea – 1st April 2023
The only one of Ollie’s 75 Premier League goals to be scored from outside the box, a deft lob away at Chelsea helped seal a 2-0 win in West London, Villa’s first at Stamford Bridge since 2011.
18 minutes were on the clock when Watkins raced onto Marc Cucurella’s loose header back to lift the ball delicately over Kepa Arrizabalaga from the edge of the area, putting his side ahead and becoming the first Villan in history to net in five straight away Premier League outings.
John McGinn’s second-half strike took the game out of the reach of the Blues, as Villa picked up their 16th point on the road since Emery’s appointment – a tally only matched by Manchester City in that time – while their record of of 26 points in 14 games under Emery was bettered only by the Premier League’s top three at the time: Man City, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Watkins would end the season with 15 Premier League goals – his highest return in claret and blue at that point.
Goals 42, 43 & 44 v Brighton & Hove Albion – 30th September 2023
Things got even better for Watkins last season, as he notched an impressive 27 goals in all competitions.
The second of his two Premier League hat-tricks to date in claret and blue came again at Villa Park two months into the 2023/24 campaign, continuing his fine record against the Brighton by scoring in four straight games against the Seagulls.
First, he turned Matty Cash’s cross home to put Villa in front of 14 minutes, before doubling his and Emery’s side’s tally seven minutes later, again cutting inside from the left and squeezing an effort in at the near post.
Brighton pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half, but Watkins completed his treble to put Villa 4-1 to the good 25 minutes from time, as his effort deflected off Adam Webster in front of the Holte End to leave Jason Steele with no chance.
The win was Villa’s 10th consecutive triumph on home soil and took the hosts up to fourth in the table, at the start of what would prove to be a memorable season.
Goal 50 v Newcastle United – 30th January 2024
Ollie 50th Premier League goal in claret and blue is perhaps one he would rather forget, coming in Villa’s first home defeat of the 2023/24 season against Newcastle at Villa Park.
Fabian Schär netted a quickfire double in the opening period before Àlex Moreno’s own-goal just after the break left the Villans with a mountain to climb.
They would get themselves on the scoresheet, however, as Watkins guided Leon Bailey’s cross home from six yards out to hit half a century of Premier League goals.
But it could not save Villa from falling to a first league defeat at Villa Park in 18 outings.
Goal 59 v Arsenal – 14th April 2024
Despite this, the season would still end on a high for the Villans and Watkins, who notched the third of his four goals to date at the Emirates Stadium against Mikel Arteta’s side, as Emery’s men sealed a crucial, memorable win in the race for Champions League football.
Just three minutes after Leon Bailey had edged Villa in front – six minutes from time – things got even better for the visitors. Arsenal threw bodies forward in search of an equalising goal, but Youri Tielemans released Ollie Watkins with a long ball forward.
The England striker did the rest, holding off Emile Smith Rowe and lifting a wonderful chip over David Raya and into the far corner to cue bedlam in the away end, as Villa took one step closer to securing their 2024/25 Champions League spot.
The goal was Ollie’s 19th and final of the 2023/24 Premier League season, drawing him level with Christian Benteke and his tally from the 2012/13 campaign. No Aston Villa player has netted more in a single league campaign.
Goal 75 v Bournemouth – 10th May 2025
Three weeks after drawing level with Agbonlahor's tally of 74 with a deflected strike just 33 seconds into an emphatic 4-1 win over Newcastle United at Villa Park, Watkins' record-breaking moment came away at Bournemouth.
The forward again demonstrated impeccable instincts to pounce inside the area and glance Morgan Rogers' ball into the far corner to edge the Villans ahead at the Vitality Stadium in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time.
The goal cued scenes of jubilation both in the away end and on the field on the south coast, as Watkins was mobbed by his team-mates in celebration of his achievement.
As well as breaking the record, Watkins' strike sealed a vital 1-0 victory on the road for Emery's men, as Villa secured European football for the third successive season.
