Premier League golden boot: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ‘proud to represent Africa’ by sharing award with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane

The Arsenal striker tied with the Reds duo on 22 goals for the season and will hope to inspire the Gunners to Europa League glory in Baku against Chelsea

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will have to keep his thirst for goals bubbling under for the next fortnight as he prepares for Arsenal’s Europa League final.

Aubameyang ended the Premier League season as joint winner of the Golden Boot with Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane on 22 goals after a double in yesterday’s 3-1 win over Burnley.

What makes it an even better achievement is that the Gunners centre-forward spent less time on the pitch than Salah and Mane.

Salah appeared in every game and Mane in all but two, with them only being substitutes once, whereas Aubameyang missed two games and came off the bench in another six as Arsenal manager Unai Emery had a spell where he opted to rotate him and Alexandre Lacazette for one spot up front.

But the 29-year-old from Gabon is proud to have finished on top of the goalscorers’ chart with Egyptian Salah and Mane of Senegal.

“It means a lot. I am really happy and proud of it,” he says. “I am sharing this trophy with Mane and Salah. I like these two guys.

“We are representing Africa so it is a good sign for the Continent. I am really proud and I have to thank my team-mates for helping me get it.”

The month of May has produced a hot streak for the striker as he has bagged seven goals in four games, including a hat-trick in the 4-2 win in Valencia on Thursday. Those goals didn’t bring the Gunners a top-four spot in the league, but it has earned them a shot at a Champions League place if they beat Chelsea in Baku on May 28.

It has been an impressive first full season in England, having joined from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, and the striker is determined to finish it on the right note.

“We did well on Thursday and personally I did well, and yesterday too,” he adds. “I could have scored a third goal but I missed a sitter. Sometimes that can happen.

Aubameyang shows off his prize (Getty)

“Unfortunately we now have to wait more than two weeks to play the final but we will prepare this game and we will be ready.

“This was a tough season. In truth, maybe not the best but I am happy with it. I gave everything to try to be in the top four with the team and to get a trophy.”