Ollie Watkins names an Arsenal legend as the best Premier League striker ever… but there was no space for Wayne Rooney in the Aston Villa star’s greatest forwards list

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins named his top five Premier League strikers of all time
The England forward picked two former Man United stars in his list of strikers
Anthony Gordon should ditch England to play for Scotland – It’s All Kicking Off

Ollie Watkins has named his top five Premier League strikers of all time with an Arsenal legend clinching top spot, but there was no room for Wayne Rooney.

The Aston Villa striker has been in a rich vein of form this season, scoring six Premier League goals and registering five assists to put Unai Emery’s side within three points of table-toppers Manchester City.

Consecutive England call-ups have demonstrated Gareth Southgate’s ambitions to use Watkins as a back-up for Three Lions captain Harry Kane at next year’s European Championship.

His goalscoring exploits for Villa this season have made Watkins one of the most formidable strikers in the English top-flight and he has now revealed the former professionals who inspired him.

Watkins has scored 11 goals in all competitions with Villa fighting for silverware in the Carabao Cup, UEFA Europa Conference League and the Premier League.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins picked his top five Premier League strikers of all time

Watkins (right) is currently on international duty with England where he provides back-up for Three Lions captain Harry Kane

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The 27-year-old has rose through the ranks of English football, starting his career at Exeter City during which time he had a spell at non-league side Weston Super Mare, before moving onto Brentford and eventually Aston Villa.

Watkins picked his top five Premier League strikers of all time in a recent interview with BT Sport and named former Spurs forward Jermain Defoe as his fifth choice.

Defoe scored 302 career goals with spells at Tottenham, West Ham and Sunderland proving as the most rewarding before he retired last year following a stint at Rangers.

Watkins then picked former Arsenal and Man United goalscorer Robin van Persie as the Premier League’s fourth best striker after the Dutchman’s heroics at both clubs.

Van Persie was a legend at Arsenal before swapping the Gunners for Man United where his goalscoring exploits guided the club to a 13th Premier League crown and Sir Alex Ferguson’s final title.

Another United striker made a surprise inclusion in Watkins’ top picks as Ruud van Nistelrooy clinched third spot.

There was no place for Wayne Rooney as Watkins picked his top five Premier League strikers

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry (third from left) was named by Watkins as the best Premier League striker

Former Man United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie also made the list of legendary forwards

England and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer was named second in the list behind Henry

Van Nistelrooy’s time at Old Trafford seen him burst onto the scene with 95 Premier League goals in just 150 appearances, before he was then sold to Real Madrid.

Alan Shearer was the runner-up for Watkins with the Englishman still holding the all-time Premier League goals record after scoring 260 times in the competition.

However, top spot was reserved for Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, who Watkins described as a player who he ‘idolises’.

The Frenchman scored 175 goals during his time with the Gunners, during which time he won the Premier League twice before being sold to Barcelona.

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