Martin Keown has lauded Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the striker scored a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Valencia 4-2 in Spain last night.
Aubameyang’s glorious hat-trick capped off a tremendous two-legged effort from the Gunners and Unai Emery’s side will now play fellow Londoners Chelsea in the final at the end of the month.
Valencia were unable to stop the brilliant combination between Alexandre Lacezette and Aubameyang, with the former also getting his name on the score sheet. Keown was full of praise for the Gabon international who now has eight goals in the Europa League this term.
Speaking in The Daily Express, he said: “Outstanding, he was Eden Hazard-like at times running with the ball.
“They couldn’t get it off him.
“He became a top player for them tonight.
“I said he was the nearest thing to Henry that I’ve seen in an Arsenal shirt and he proved it.”
OPINION
Keown has made the comparison between Aubameyang and Henry and rightly so. Aubameyang has been sensational since arriving from Borrusia Dortmund and his goal-scoring record speak for itself. He was unstoppable last night and the striker is a challenge for any defence in the world when he is at his best. The 29-year-old can be the difference for the Gunners and the combination that has been formed between himself and Frenchman Lacazette is crucial to Arsenal’s success. The all-English final between themselves and Chelsea will be a pulsating one and it’s really difficult to pick a winner. If Arsenal can replicate some of the football that they played during the two legs against a solid Valencia side, they should cause Maurizio Sarri’s men all kinds of problems. After a satisfactory first Premier League season under Emery, Arsenal have a glorious opportunity to restore some parity and win some European silverware.