Thierry Henry may well be Arsenal’s greatest ever goalscorer, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is scoring at a rate not seen since Ian Wright was at the club.

Arsenal FC v Manchester United Premier League 1552299116
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 10: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on March 10, 2019, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

When Thierry Henry arrived at Arsenal he scored 25 goals by the time he had played 45 games for the club.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has, however, scored 28 in the same number of matches.

Neither of these, though, match Ian Wright, who scored 34 in his first 45 for Arsenal.

11 Jan 1996: Ian Wright of Arsenal holds his hands to his ears during the Coca Cola Cup quarter-final against Newcastle at Highbury Stadium in London. Arsenal won the match 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport
11 Jan 1996: Ian Wright of Arsenal holds his hands to his ears during the Coca Cola Cup quarter-final against Newcastle at Highbury Stadium in London. Arsenal won the match 2-0. Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport

Ahead of Arsenal’s first leg against Napoli in this season’s Europa League, it was claimed that the Italians had tried to sign Auba twice but couldn’t afford his wages.

Oscar Damiani, Auba’s agent, told Radio Kiss Napoli, “Napoli first wanted Aubameyang when he was at Saint-Etienne and then at Dortmund. He’s a fast player, [they] should be very careful.

“His 12 million net [salary] per year is too much for Naples.”

On Monday night, Auba scored one of the best goals of the season. How often do you see a striker close down a keeper only for his run to be wasted as the keeper clears the ball? On Monday night at Vicarage Road, Ben Foster thought he had time.

Had Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang been most other strikers, he would have.

WATFORD, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal closes down Ben Foster of Watford and scores the winning goal during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Arsenal FC at Vicarage Road on April 15, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal closes down Ben Foster of Watford and scores the winning goal during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Arsenal FC at Vicarage Road on April 15, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

But the Arsenal man was on him before he could get the ball away and the timing of his block was so perfect the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Speaking after the game, Ben Foster revealed that Leno had spoken to him after the final whistle.

“To be fair, he’s absolutely rapid,” Foster said. I spoke to Bernd Leno at the end of the game and he said ‘it’s not your fault, he’s too quick’. I’m gutted for the lads, though.”