Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has claimed that Arsenal target Ollie Watkins has told him he is happy to stay at Villa Park following reports of an approach from North London this week.

The Spanish tactician has seemingly handed a dagger blow to his former club's transfer hopes with the January window set to close on Monday, February 3. Arsenal have been scouring the market for attacking additions with Mikel Arteta keen to bolster their forward line in the hope to catapult them towards current Premier League leaders, Liverpool.

Speaking ahead of the weekend action, Emery praised Watkins, who is the Villans top goalscorer this term, and emphasised with his important he is to the club - and revealed what the player said to him about a potential move during talks between the pair.

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"The commitment of Watkins is really a huge commitment to defend Aston Villa," the 53-year-old explained. "He appreciates how Aston Villa was always supporting him and helping him. Also, when we joined two years ago, how we always tried to get the best of him.

"Now we need him, like he needed Aston Villa in the last years. The conversation we are having usually is about how he is always adapting to every circumstance.

"When some teams are calling us being interested in the players, it is good for us and the players. Some players prefer to leave and some players accept to stay here and commit to Aston Villa and compete for our challenges. One of them is Ollie Watkins."

He added: "Yes, he is happy to stay. We asked him how he is feeling and he is happy here."

Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off) with the Gunners eyeing redemption from their dramatic draw in the corresponding fixture in the North West. However Arteta failed to be drawn on speculation surrounding the 29-year-old.

"You know I am not going to talk about individuals," he said. "We are actively looking to try and find solutions in that position and we will see what the market brings.

"We don't really look at the market in those terms. We look at what we have in the squad, what we're lacking and what can make us look much better."