Richard Keys has hailed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for his goalscoring turn against Watford on Sunday, claiming that he is the “new Ian Wright”.
The 30-year-old bagged a brace in the first half of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Watford, before a dire performance after the interval saw the Gunners pegged back.
But Keys still saw fit to sing the striker’s praises.
Writing on his personal Twitter account, he said: “I said when they bought Aubameyang he was new Ian Wright.
“I’m even more convinced now.
“Top class.”
I said when they bought Aubameyang he was new @IanWright0. I’m even more convinced now. Top class.
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) September 15, 2019
How good is Aubameyang?
For Keys to compare Aubameyang to Ian Wright is a big claim indeed.
The Gunners legend hit 128 goals in a red and white shirt, and is fondly remembered as one of the greatest strikers in the club’s history.
Aubameyang is unlikely to ever reach that figure in north London, or to be memorialised in such glowing terms for that matter, but the fact remains that he is still the finest finisher the club have had since Robin Van Persie, and perhaps even since Thierry Henry.
His brace against Watford, although ultimately not enough for the win, takes his tally to five goals in five games in the Premier League this term, at a rate of 3.2 shots per game, as per Whoscored.
That outstrips his rate of 2.6 per game last term, and suggests that he is becoming more ruthless and more direct in his approach.
That single-mindedness has to come at a price, however, and the fact that Aubameyang has only registered an average of 0.8 key passes and 0.4 successful dribbles per game in the league so far this season would ordinarily be a cause for concern.
When he is scoring as effectively as he is at the moment though, it is hard to hold those kind of stats against him.
If the Gunners were suffering in attack as a result of Aubameyang’s selfishness in the final third, you may be inclined to question his style of play, but the reality is that Arsenal’s problems, as exhibited by their second half capitulation against Watford on Sunday, are defensive.
In fact, you could even argue that Aubameyang’s nose for goal is their only saving grace some weeks.
He may never be Ian Wright, but he is still very, very good.