Arsenal is reportedly monitoring Gustavo Varela, the 21-year-old striker from Monza, following his impressive debut season in Serie A. The Portuguese forward, who transferred from Benfica this summer, has quickly become one of Italy's standout talents.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal has flagged Varela as a player to watch, with interest also coming from Napoli and his former club, Benfica. Varela's statistics speak volumes about his impact:

• 6 goals in 6 Serie A appearances
• 2 goals in the Coppa Italia, totaling 8 goals in 7 matches

His recent performance included two goals and an assist in Monza’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Cagliari.

Acquired for just €2 million, Varela's market value has surged, especially as he is under contract until 2030. Notably, Benfica lacks a buy-back clause but retains the right to match future offers and is entitled to 20% of any profit.

Monza coach Ivan Juric praised Varela, stating, "He is scoring goals and has enormous room for improvement in many areas."

While Varela's eight goals in seven games is remarkable, the sample size is small, allowing Arsenal to avoid rushing into a costly January bid. His versatility as a No.9—capable of scoring headers, finishing in the box, and contributing to team play—makes him an appealing target.

As Serie A’s joint-second-highest scorer, Varela’s breakout is becoming increasingly hard for top European clubs to overlook. Arsenal's best strategy might involve closely monitoring his progress this season, potentially securing him before his value escalates beyond £70 million.