Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the closest thing Arsenal have had to legendary former striker Thierry Henry, according to Martin Keown.The former Gunners captain was full of praise for the Gabonese as he went on to his a hat-trick away to Valencia in Thursday's Europa League semi-final second-leg.Aubameyang has enjoyed a rich vein of form in front of goal this season, taking his tally to 28 goals in all competitions with his strike in Spain. Valencia looked to be channeling the spirit of both Liverpool and Tottenham as they looked to complete a remarkable turnaround, taking the lead through veteran striker Kevin Gameiro.But Arsenal's attacking line-up paid dividends soon after Gameiro's opener as Alexandre Lacazette teed up Aubameyang to finish expertly for his first, later completing a stunning hat-trick to seal progression to the final. 'I have said it before but he is the closest thing to (Thierry) Henry and he is proving that tonight,' Keown said on BT Sport. 'We are getting out of our chairs every time he has the ball. Let’s credit (Unai) Emery as well for playing both of those strikers and (Mesut) Ozil as well.'He was cup-tied last year and boy did Arsenal miss him. He was (Eden) Hazard-like running with the ball at times tonight. 'He became a top player for me tonight. I've said he is the closest thing to Henry and he showed it.' Aubameyang's opening strike was vital in cancelling out Valencia's away goal from the first leg before things got even better in the second half when Lacazette grabbed a second and Aubameyang got a further two to hammer home their advantage. John Hartson, a striker for the Gunners between 1995 and 1997, echoed the sentiments of Keown as he hailed the work-rate of the strike pair. 'Aubameyang runs under the initial header but his reaction is magnificent,' Hartson said, explaining the equalising goal. 'He backs Lacazette to win it and that is a brilliant finish. He has beat the goalkeeper on his favourite side. He shows him the other side of the goal but it is a brilliant equaliser.'Aubameyang had his best night in an Arsenal shirt. He was on a different level to everyone else out there tonight.'
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the closest thing Arsenal have had to legendary former striker Thierry Henry, according to Martin Keown.The former Gunners captain was full of praise for the Gabonese as he went on to his a hat-trick away to Valencia in Thursday's Europa League semi-final second-leg.Aubameyang has enjoyed a rich vein of form in front of goal this season, taking his tally to 28 goals in all competitions with his strike in Spain. Valencia looked to be channeling the spirit of both Liverpool and Tottenham as they looked to complete a remarkable turnaround, taking the lead through veteran striker Kevin Gameiro.But Arsenal's attacking line-up paid dividends soon after Gameiro's opener as Alexandre Lacazette teed up Aubameyang to finish expertly for his first, later completing a stunning hat-trick to seal progression to the final. 'I have said it before but he is the closest thing to (Thierry) Henry and he is proving that tonight,' Keown said on BT Sport. 'We are getting out of our chairs every time he has the ball. Let’s credit (Unai) Emery as well for playing both of those strikers and (Mesut) Ozil as well.'He was cup-tied last year and boy did Arsenal miss him. He was (Eden) Hazard-like running with the ball at times tonight. 'He became a top player for me tonight. I've said he is the closest thing to Henry and he showed it.' Aubameyang's opening strike was vital in cancelling out Valencia's away goal from the first leg before things got even better in the second half when Lacazette grabbed a second and Aubameyang got a further two to hammer home their advantage. John Hartson, a striker for the Gunners between 1995 and 1997, echoed the sentiments of Keown as he hailed the work-rate of the strike pair. 'Aubameyang runs under the initial header but his reaction is magnificent,' Hartson said, explaining the equalising goal. 'He backs Lacazette to win it and that is a brilliant finish. He has beat the goalkeeper on his favourite side. He shows him the other side of the goal but it is a brilliant equaliser.'Aubameyang had his best night in an Arsenal shirt. He was on a different level to everyone else out there tonight.'
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