Among some of the positives of the preseason, Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has played well to this point. Being up top, finding one's form, and looking to be a danger any time they step foot on the pitch can be difficult aspects to obtain.
Seeing Watkins playing at this level early on is a highly encouraging sign from the England international.
There can often be talk on social media criticizing Watkins. What his latest performances should remind people is that the Villa striker is legitimately in discussions among the better attacking options in the Premier League.
With six goal contributions, including five goals and an assist in five matches, Watkins is displaying what he looks like at the apex of his abilities for Villa.
Now about to enter another year for the club in Unai Emery's system, Watkins possesses a fuller understanding of what is being asked of him. He also knows how to position himself on the pitch in a way to set himself or others up to threaten the opposition goal on a consistent basis.
While there can sometimes be talk seen among Villa supporters looking to move on from Watkins, those types of desires should come with a warning.
Watkins has shown that he can produce in the EPL, and he knows some of the finer intricacies of Emery's system. Bringing in someone else to outright replace him at the moment would present two problems.
Challenges of adding new player to Aston Villa
For one, it is far from a given that a newcomer to the Premier League will be able to find success. Oftentimes, someone who has achieved and played well in other leagues finds the increased demands of the EPL to be too much.
Second, the fit in Emery's system, too, makes it that much more challenging to add someone else. Someone may have the skill set to play in the league, but their ability to understand what the Villa boss is asking for and how they get along in the dressing room are two aspects that can often be overlooked when creating a wish list for a new potential player.