Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wants to be the new Thierry Henry and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is thrilled
Arsenal's club-record signing has made a flying start to life at the Emirates with a goal on his debut
ARSENE WENGER loves new face Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s ambition to be the new Thierry Henry.
Aubameyang made it clear after joining Arsenal for a club-record £60million that Gunners legend Henry was his role model.
And boss Wenger said: “It is an ambitious statement but a good one.
“The best goalscorer ever in Arsenal’s history — it doesn’t mean he will score as many goals, but why not?”
And Wenger had to admit that, of all the players he has coached in two decades at Arsenal, Aubameyang reminds him most of the Frenchman, who netted 228 times in 376 appearances for the club.
Wenger said: “It’s a bit too early to compare him to the best player ever who played here — Aubameyang has played one game.
“But it’s a good example to follow. His finish against Everton was brilliant. His finishing is good.
“You don’t score by coincidence for so many years. Even in five-a-side he’s able to score goals, so when the guys can repeat that at the top level, it means he has that quality.
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“Running-wise, Henry’s a good example to follow.
“But Thierry came a bit more to the ball as well, participated more in the game.”
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Being spoken of in the same breath as Henry by the fans is still a long way off. First, Aubameyang must succeed where many other strikers have failed by making his mark in the Premier League.
Wenger said: “His target is to have an impact in the Premier League because he knows that, today, to be acknowledged as a top-class striker, you have to do it in the Premier League.
“That is one of his challenges by joining us.
“What we have observed is that the transfer nowadays from the goals scored in other leagues does not necessarily transfer 100 per cent to the English Premier League.
“When we played at Swansea, we played against ten 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.”
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But Wenger expects his latest superstar to look more match- fit today than on his debut against Everton, adding: “Aubameyang was sick.
“He came in on the Tuesday and we still had to keep him out of training because he had still not recovered physically from his sickness.
“He will be a bit sharper than he was last week.”
And the former Borussia Dortmund star will need to be against a Spurs team spearheaded by Harry Kane, whose 100th Premier League goal at Liverpool last weekend made him the second-fastest player to reach that landmark.
Yet Aubameyang does not think the Gunners should focus too much on the England man.
He said: “I don’t see any Tottenham player as really dangerous because their main asset is in the team.
“Yes, you can single out Kane because of the scoring form he is in but it is vital we don’t take any player for granted.
“Harry is a fine player. He’s really good but, without a team effort, no one can do much. I’ve seen some North London derbies on TV and I know what this game means to Arsenal fans.
“The mood around the club is great and, to be honest, that is all you usually need in games like that.
“We have world-class players who appreciate what this means to Arsenal now and what we want to do this season.
“So a win is so, so vital.”