Two players are emerging as the perfect candidates to strengthen the Gunners' attack this summer and Mikel Arteta must do everything he can to secure their signatures.
Benfica's Darwin Nunez continued to add to his incredible goal record this season and found the back of the net for the 33rd time on Sunday as his side beat league rivals Sporting Lisbon 2-0. football.london understands Arsenal are tracking the 22-year-old ahead of a potential move in the coming months.
Comfortable as both a centre-forward and left-winger, Nunez offers an explosive turn of pace and a lethal instinct in front of goal that has seen him score more than the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in all competitions this season. The Uruguayan international most recently bagged two goals versus Liverpool in the Champions League and has also had success against Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax.
READ MORE: Alexandre Lacazette hints Mikel Arteta will require two new strikers at Arsenal this summer
As you would expect, his impressive displays have caught the attention of many European clubs which has left Benfica reportedly demanding a fee in the region of £65m for the player's services. It may seem like a sizeable price, but current signs point towards Nunez becoming one of the most talented forwards in the game and because of that, Arteta and technical director Edu must ensure a Dusan Vlahovic repeat does not occur.
Meanwhile, PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo also reminded the footballing world how much of a special talent he is by helping the Dutch side defeat Ajax in the KNVB cup final. Already captaining his team at the age of 22, Gakpo scored what proved to be the goal that ensured he and his teammates secured silverware.
It became the Netherlands international's 18th goal of the season, which is joined by an impressive 15 assists across 42 appearances so far. Just like Nunez, Gakpo has been linked with a move to the Emirates after a Voetbal International report claimed Arsenal are in 'pole position' and currently leading the race to sign him, with it suggested that it will take at least £35m to strike a deal.
Gakpo is naturally a winger who operates on the left-hand side but he has played as a centre forward on 17 occasions, scoring eight goals in the process. He also has experience as a right-winger and even an attacking midfielder, highlighting the versatility he can bring to the table. It's a trait Arteta loves his players to have, and even better, Gakpo possesses leadership skills at a young age which also bode well.
It's no secret that Arsenal will be in desperate need of added firepower come the summer. Following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure in January, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are both set to leave once their contracts come to an end in June. Additionally, the prospect of European football along with the introduction of five substitutions from next season only reiterates that attacking reinforcements are desperately required.
Several other names are said to be on Arteta's shopping list including Victor Osimhen, Jonathan David and Alexander Isak, but in terms of form and balance, Nunez and Gakpo would represent a dream double signing that would take the Gunners' frontline to a whole new level for many years to come.
