Striker Ollie Watkins has told boss Unai Emery he wants to stay at Aston Villa and reject interest from Arsenal.

The Gunners made an approach for the England international on Monday but it was knocked back as Villa have no intention of letting the forward leave.

Emery said Watkins, who scored in Wednesday’s 4-2 Champions League win over Celtic, is expected to stay.

“Yes, he is happy to stay,” he said, when asked if Watkins had expressed his desire to remain at Villa Park.

“You can ask him, but we asked him how he is feeling every day, every year he has been here with Aston Villa, with us and without us.

“The commitment of Ollie Watkins with us is a huge commitment. He appreciates a lot how Aston Villa was always supporting him, helping him, and when we joined him here two years ago, how we worked with him, always trying to get the best of him.

“Now we need him, like he needed Aston Villa. The conversation we are having usually, I am speaking with him a lot, he is always adapting of every circumstance we have in the squad and individually with him.

“When there are some teams calling us being interested in the players, of course it is very good for us and very good for the players.

“Some players prefer to leave and some players accept to stay here, to be here and commit with us here and to be with our challenge. One of those is Ollie Watkins.”