DERBY SHOOT 'EM UP J?FFK Ë<D LG
Wenger: Auba can be a legend like Henry
®
ARSENE WENGER believes PierreEmerick Aubameyang has picked the perfect role model in Thierry Henry.
Arsenal’s record £56m signing revealed he wants to follow in the footsteps of Henry after being handed the legendary striker’s No.14 shirt.
The Gabon hitman, who scored on his Arsenal debut in last weekend’s 5-1 win over Everton, has some way to go to catch up with Henry’s 228-goal haul.
But Aubameyang’s deft finish resembled Henry (below) in his pomp and Wenger reckons he boasts similar attributes to the Frenchman.
“It is an ambitious statement but it is a good one, the best goalscorer ever in Arsenal’s history,” said Wenger of Aubameyang’s plan to match Henry.
“He’s most like Thierry with his quality of runs. It’s a bit too early to compare him to the best player ever who played here – he has played one game.
“But it’s a good example to follow. His finish was brilliant. His finishing is good.
“You don’t score by coincidence for so many years, if you score many goals. Even in five-a-side he’s able to score goals, so when these guys can repeat that at the top level, it means they have that quality.
“Running wise, he’s a good example to follow. But Thierry came a bit more to the ball as well, participated more in the game.” Today’s north London derby hosts Tottenham will need no reminding of what Aubameyang can do.
Spurs were undone by the 28-year-old in 2016, with Aubameyang scoring three times over two legs for Borussia Dortmund in their last-16 Europa League tie.
He was also on target when the clubs met in the Champions League group stages this season.
Wenger said: “His target is to have an impact in the Premier League because he knows that to be acknowledged as a top class striker, you have to do it in the Premier League.
“That’s one of his challenges, I think, by joining us.
“What we have observed nowadays is the goals scored in other leagues does not necessarily transfer 100 per cent to the Premier League.
“When we played at Swansea, we played against 10 men in the last 25 yards and that doesn’t exist anywhere in Europe. To be as prolific in the Premier League is today much more difficult.”
Aubameyang and fellow new signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who played together at Borussia Dortmund, combined to tear Everton apart.
Wenger’s task of ensuring his new-look forward line gel might not be as tricky as first imagined.
He added: “Mkhitaryan was supposed to join us two years ago because I had identified him to have the qualities to play for us.
“Aubameyang has a tremendous quality of receiving the ball up front and quality of pace. Their natural qualities suit well what we need.”