Arsenal have just put in one of their best all round defensive performances of the year against Sunderland, but in all honesty, that’s not saying much. The Gunners have been lacklustre defensively since the start of the season. It didn’t take much for them to deliver their best performance yet.
Of course, the season is still relatively young, but it’s clear enough to just about everybody that Arsenal have work to do in this position. Opposition footballers know that if they lump enough balls into the box, get physical and work hard, they’ll create chances and more than likely find the back of the net.
This is one of the major reasons why Arsenal still struggle against big teams (case in point: Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea this season). Something needs to be done.
This brings me to The Metro‘s claim that Bayer Leverkusen star, Lars Bender, would be an ideal signing for The Gunners. Could this German ace be the last piece of Arsenal’s defensive jigsaw puzzle?
Bender is primarily a holding midfielder. He sits in front of the back four, mops up everything that the opposition sends his way, makes plenty of tackles and breaks up play as much as possible. When he’s in possession, he’s also pretty handy. He’s a dynamic presence who makes a lot of smart runs, is confident on the ball and can pick out a pass.
It’s easy to see why Arsenal might be interested. He’s not the big physical presence that I’d argue that Arsene Wenger needs, but he’s certainly a step in the right direction.
There’s no word as to how much Bender might cost (though The Metro do note that he will be ‘a difficult player to snap up’), but I have little doubt that he’ll offer plenty of return on the investment. He’s a smart young footballer (he’s just 25-years-old), who’s due a move to a big club. Let’s just hope that Arsenal make it happen.
What’s your take? Is Lars Bender the right choice for The Gunners?
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