Martin Keown likens ‘special’ Liverpool star Cody Gakpo to Arsenal icon

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Arsenal hero Martin Keown believes new Liverpool signing Cody Gakpo plays in the mould of Gunners icon Thierry Henry. He is in awe of what the Dutchman now gives Jurgen Klopp.

Gakpo made his Premier League debut on Saturday afternoon as Liverpool visited Brighton & Hove Albion. He joined the Reds from PSV Eindhoven at the start of the month for €40m (£35m). Add-ons may take the 23-year-old’s transfer up to €50m (£44m) over his contract.

Klopp afforded the 14-cap Netherlands forward his Reds bow in the FA Cup against Wolves last Saturday. Gakpo did not get on the scoresheet at home to the Molineux outfit through his 84 minutes on the field. The Eindhoven-born star started the 2-2 draw on the left wing.

Gakpo offers Klopp a versatile forward threat as the PSV product can play from any of the front three positions. He is also a leader despite his slender age having captained Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team at the Philips Stadion during the Eredivisie and Europa League this term.

Liverpool moved to sign Gakpo after he scored 13 goals and assisted a further 17 across 24 appearances for PSV in all competitions this season. His haul included three goals and two assists in five Europa League ties. One of his assists also came against Arsenal in a 2-0 win.

Keown sees similarities between Liverpool star Gakpo and Arsenal icon Henry

Now, Keown has high expectations for what Gakpo will bring to Liverpool after likening the forward to Arsenal icon Henry. The former Gunners defender played 138 matches with the France icon at Highbury from 1999 to 2004. They won two Premier League titles together.

Keown and Henry also lifted the FA Cup twice together in north London during a period of the forward’s career that saw Henry win two Premier League Golden Boots. The forward also signed for Arsene Wenger’s side from Juventus in 1999 as a 1998 World Cup winner.

Now, Keown sees similarities between the dazzling runs that Henry made and what Gakpo adds to Liverpool. But the Gunners great did also once compare Danny Welbeck to Henry.

“Gakpo will play centrally today and I do think he is a special player,” Keown told BBC Final Score. “He’s a Thierry Henry type player, he’s got that stature – he’s quick, he’s strong.”