Ian Wright has batted away suggestions that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is "underrated" and believes the Arsenal striker could have broken Premier League records if he had joined the club sooner.
The Gabonese striker grabbed the only goal of the game on Sunday with a deft finish past Martin Dubrvaka to give Unai Emery’s side an opening day win against Newcastle United.
It was a much-changed Arsenal side that took the field at St James’ Park with Alexandre Lacazette and new signings Nicolas Pepe on the bench.
However, Aubaemyang rose to the occasion and showed his clinical edge by notching his only real clear-cut chance of the game to secure three points for the Gunners.
Following on from that, Arsenal legend and fellow striker Ian Wright has dismissed claims that the striker is “underrated”.
Wright also claimed that Aubameyang could have broken Premier League goal-scoring record had he arrived at the club earlier in his career, such is his talent in front of goal.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 5Live Monday Night Club, he said: “I don't think so (he’s underrated).
"We’ve all known that Aubameyang has been a top goal-scorer everywhere he’s been he has scored goals. At Saint-Etienne, 41 in 97, at Borussia Dortmund, 213 games, 141 goals. For Gabon, he’s got 59 caps, 24 goals, so I don’t think he’s underrated, African Player of the Year.
"I think he gets the way he plays, he’s on the edge of things, on the periphery of things so you don’t see him doing anything else other than the most important thing in the game, scoring goals and he does it so prolifically.
"He’s someone that I believe if he was at Arsenal a few years ago then the records would have been in danger because of the rate he scores.
"I don’t think he’s underrated at all. People didn’t want to take a chance on him, for whatever reason. He’s come to the Premier League and he’s more than capable."
Wright also gave some insight into the quality of Aubameyang’s finish against Newcastle at the weekend.
To the untrained eye, the deft strike looked fairly routine, with the 30-year-old dinking the ball past Dubravka from inside the area.
However, Wright explained the importance of Aubameyang’s first touch, which enabled him to catch the ‘keeper off-guard.
"Beautiful goal. Without a doubt (he would’ve been proud of that)," he exclaimed.
"He had a similar one in the first half, he made a similar run. This time he took it with his left foot and the goalkeeper made a very good save.
"This time, the touch with the outside of the foot and then just toe-poke it as the goalkeeper is coming.
"What people have to understand, it’s the touch that the goalkeepers are hoping that you don’t have a good touch.
"Maybe the goalkeeper is even hoping he’ll take more time to take it on his left foot and he’ll have more time but he put it on the right foot and instantly poked it whilst the goalkeeper is on his way.
"Goalkeepers can’t set and he seems to do that naturally well."
