Ollie Watkins struggles as Aston Villa held 0-0 by Everton; Emery laments lack of alternatives

Aston Villa failed to score for the fourth consecutive Premier League match as they were held to a goalless draw at Everton on Saturday, leaving the Midlands club without a goal in their opening four fixtures for the first time in the competition's history.

Villa's leading forward Ollie Watkins produced a quiet display as the visitors struggled to create clear chances, while Everton striker Beto provided a physical presence that unsettled Villa's centre-backs and helped the hosts gain footholds in attack.

Watkins was largely anonymous during the contest, touching the ball just 16 times in 83 minutes and winning only two of nine duels. He did not register a shot and was credited with a single attempt to run at his marker, losing possession in the process. By contrast, Everton's Beto won all five of his aerial duels and repeatedly troubled Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, giving space for wide players such as Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish to influence the match.

The lack of a recognised alternative to Watkins has compounded Villa's scoring problems. Jhon Duran, who had been a useful secondary option last season, left for Al-Nassr in January, and Marcus Rashford — who spent the latter part of 2023-24 on loan at Villa and gave the side a different dimension — is no longer available. Villa signed Donyell Malen for a reported £19 million last winter but Unai Emery has shown reluctance to rely on the Dutch striker as a starter.

Watkins's form has been a recurring concern. He arrived at Euro 2024 in strong condition, scoring a notable goal in England's semi-final win over the Netherlands, but he has struggled to recapture that momentum in domestic play. This season he has taken only eight shots, with two on target, and several promising runs were not met by accurate passes from teammates — on at least three occasions Morgan Rogers failed to find Watkins despite him making good runs into attacking areas.

After the match Emery acknowledged Watkins's difficulties and emphasised the need to support him. "We have to protect him," the manager said, repeating the phrase. "I am not worried — for him especially. We will score again, and he is going to score."

Watkins has also faced off-field distractions in recent transfer windows. He was linked with moves to Arsenal and Manchester United in successive windows, and at times last season found himself on the bench when Emery opted for alternatives. Those interruptions and the departure of Duran have left Villa with fewer options up front than they had at this stage a year ago, when Duran had already contributed goals to ease pressure on Watkins.

Emery's options off the bench have sometimes provided impetus: Malen has shown energy when introduced, but has not been handed regular starts, and the manager suggested Malen could be given a chance in Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie against Brentford. The outcome of Villa's search for attacking form will be watched closely; the side's early-season inability to convert opportunities threatens to define their campaign if it is not corrected.

Everton, meanwhile, will take a point from a match in which they were not prolific but managed to contain a team that has been expected to challenge near the top end of the table. The goalless draw does little to alter either club's immediate outlook, but it left Villa with mounting questions about their attacking leadership and whether Watkins can regain the form that made him the club's principal goalscorer in recent seasons.

The next fixtures for both sides provide an early test of how they respond. Villa will need goals and squad rotation to unlock their forward options, while Emery will face decisions on whether to persist with Watkins as the central figure in attack or to accelerate the integration of alternatives such as Malen.

For Watkins, whose confidence and consistency have fluctuated amid benchings and transfer speculation, the manager's public defence offered reassurance but also underscored the pressure on him to deliver. The broader health of Villa's season may hinge on whether the forward can re-establish himself as the team's focal point and convert opportunities that have so far gone begging.