Unai Emery says it is up to Ollie Watkins to explain his absence from Villa side

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said it was Ollie Watkins’ responsibility to explain his absence from Sunday’s 4-0 Premier League thrashing at Brighton.

Villa lined up without a recognised striker at the Amex Stadium amid reports England international Watkins is pushing for a move to Al Hilal.

The Press Association understands Europa League champions Villa have rejected four bids from the Saudi Pro League club and that a transfer agreement is not currently close.

“This question is for him. I can’t answer. I can answer only with my silence,” said Emery when asked about Watkins’ omission.

Asked if the 30-year-old had refused to play, Emery replied: “I think you can call him, you can call his agent, and he can respond. It’s not my responsibility.”

Watkins has scored 108 times in 278 appearances for Villa since joining from Brentford in 2020, including nine goals in 11 games against Brighton.

Without him, Villa were 4-0 down inside 31 minutes following Victor Lindelof’s own goal, a close-range finish from Maxim De Cuyper and Jack Hinshelwood’s quickfire double.

Midfielder Joao Gomes – a summer signing from Wolves – was sent off on his league debut five minutes shy of half-time for kicking out at Georginio Rutter to add to the visitors’ woes on a humiliating afternoon.

Villa have endured a summer exodus since winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League through a fourth-placed finish.

Key trio Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers have all been sold, while there is ongoing talk goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Watkins will join them.

Emery, who selected Emiliano Buendia, Ross Barkley and full debutant George Hemmings as his attacking options on the south coast, said: “We made some mistakes, they