Keown’s declaration on Arsenal’s three most important players after Benfica win

Arsenal trio Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney have been hailed by Martin Keown after their comeback victory against Benfica.

All of the aforementioned three either scored or assisted as the Gunners battled back from the brink in Greece.

Aubameyang's 87th minute header ensured the north Londoners will be in the draw for the round of 16.

Keown believes the three Arsenal stars stood up when they were needed which will be beneficial moving forward.

“That’s the sort of player that you want to breed. You want characters going forwards," he said on BT Sport.

“Who are the players you can look at and say, ‘OK, cometh the hour, cometh the man’. We had three of them tonight.

“Aubameyang with the finish, Saka with the providing cross and Tierney started it with that goal, getting us back in the game.

“We’re having to learn quickly on our feet, but we might actually come out of it much stronger for having gone through this tonight.

“In the end, they showed a great deal of character.”

Aubameyang also scored the opening goal before the Gunners were pegged back by their opponents.

Kieran Tierney scored a second-half equaliser and has come in for huge praise this season.

His absence, due to injury, was felt by the Gunners but Keown has singled out the Scot for his mentality.

“He’s been immense, and you just saw the way he was waving his team on," he added.

“That’s the sort of symbolism we want going forward. You want that player that wants to really drive the team on.

“Not going to stand back and let someone else do it, know he’s going to take charge of his own destiny.

“Really the course of history has changed there, in a moment, and you can do it. It’s in your own hands and he proved it there.

“He’s got to keep doing that and of course we’ve got to keep him fit.”