Aston Villa, after a heartbreaking Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain, hosted Newcastle in the Premier League. Unai Emery’s squad delivered an impressive performance, defeating Newcastle 4-1.

The match had barely begun when Watkins scored just 33 seconds in. His shot deflected off a Newcastle defender, leaving goalkeeper Nick Pope helpless. This marked Watkins’ 15th goal of the season for Villa—a special strike given his recent criticism of Emery for benching him in the Champions League.

Watkins immediately capitalized on his return to the starting lineup, converting his first touch into a goal. Earlier this year, Arsenal made significant efforts to sign him, and the English international once again proved why he’s highly regarded by top Premier League clubs.