The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MARKSMEN
M
A
R
K
S
M
E
N
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Gunners" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case gunners = marksmen.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MARKSMEN mean?
MARKSMEN noun- A man or person skilled at hitting targets, as with a firearm, bow, or thrown object.
- Goalscorer.