Arsenal made of Gabonese guns?

The influence of African footballers is steady-rising, all over the world and in the biggest leagues. More and more players from the African continent are catching the eyes of big clubs. One of the names that is on the wish list of several Premier League clubs is the Gabonese striker Aaron Boupendza. And the one club that is focused the most on him is Arsenal, who already have a Gabonese player, the captain and their best scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Seeing Alexandre Lacazette miss a set of half-chances in the 2-1 win over Tottenham raised no new concerns. Tucking away an excellent, high-pressure penalty is reason to celebrate but doesn’t gloss over the needs of the squad. Arsenal have to sign a goalscorer during the next transfer window.

The Frenchman led the line well in a usual battle-hardened display. If he does leave at the end of the season as expected he will do so with fond wishes from all associated with the club. Yet without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the squad, the lack of goal threat is unmistakable. Martin Odegaard is drawing Aaron-Ramsey-like comparisons in the way he makes intelligently timed runs into the box, but he won’t be a regular member on the scoresheet each week. He may not even be here next season.

That is why the North Londoners look for more dangerous options for the rival goalkeepers. The 24-year-old Boupendza is having his best season to date with the Super Lig outfit, notching 18 goals in 26 league outings for a side comfortably in the top half of the table. According to 90min, it’s Boupendza’s desire to move to the Premier League in the future where he has suitors from across the division, including Southampton, Tottenham, Leicester, West Ham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Wolves.

However, it’s the Gabonese connection that makes Arsenal’s case interesting, with Aubameyang having spoken to the club about his international teammate. The two footballers from Gabon even share the same celebration - that aerial flip we all saw popular Auba do after scoring.

Moanda-born Boupendza has played across the forward line for Hatayspor, although has seemed to settle at left-winger in the second half of the campaign. As per the report, he’s seen as a long-term centre-forward, the position he prefers.

Not a great deal is known about the rising star apart from his superb scoring record – which sits at a goal every 93 minutes at the time of writing – and that his highlight reel this campaign features a delectable array of strikes.

As he isn’t tied down to a long-term contract and with Hatayspor expecting bids, a fee of 11.7 million USD (1.3 billion KSH) is said to be enough to pry him away from the Turkish side’s hands.