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Sources confirmed to BBC Sport the Gunners made their enquiry for the 29-year-old on Monday.
Watkins started in Villa’s Champions League game against Celtic on Wednesday night at Villa Park, with reports of a £60m Arsenal bid first surfacing hours before kick-off.
Villa sources say they have no intention of allowing Watkins to leave, especially with continued speculation linking fellow striker Jhon Duran with a move to Saudi Arabia.
Sources also told BBC Sport that Villa are unhappy with the timing of the approach, which came in the build-up to a key Champions League fixture and a week before January’s transfer deadline day.
It is not clear if Arsenal will return with further offers before Monday’s 23:00 GMT deadline.
Watkins has 10 goals in 31 games this season, although is yet to score in the Champions League, and struck the equaliser in Villa’s 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium earlier this month.
The England international has 80 goals in 200 appearances for the Midlands club since joining from Brentford for £28m in 2020.
The Gunners are looking for a new striker before the January transfer window closes, with Gabriel Jesus out with a serious knee injury he suffered in the FA Cup defeat by Manchester United this month.
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