Arsenal monitoring Aubameyang strike partner Aaron Boupendza

Arsenal are keeping tabs on a striker well known to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they continue to make plans for an ‘unprecedented’ summer of transfer activity.

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 in the summer.

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 side the lack of goal threat is unmistakable. Martin Odegaard is drawing Aaron Ramsey 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.

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Arsenal monitoring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike partner Aaron Boupendza amid Premier League interest

Odsonne Edouard is rumoured to be moving to Leicester which reduces the striker pool Arsenal can choose from, one that now includes Hatayspor striker Aaron Boupendza, according to 90min.

The 24-year-old 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. 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.

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 form 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 £8.5m is said to be enough to pry him away from the Turkish side’s hands.