5. Lars Bender
Linked with Arsenal in the 2014 winter transfer window, Lars Bender is a name Gooners know well.
The 25-year-old Germany international is currently plying his trade at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Bender is known for producing strong and confident displays in the midfield. A clean tackler and cautious passer, Lars would be able to slot into Arsenal’s first team without too many problems.
He isn’t quite as comfortable with the ball at his feet as the other players on this list, but still has impressive ball control for a defensive minded player.
For me, the 25-year-old wouldn’t be the best signing when compared to the other players on this list, as he would cost somewhere in the region of £15-25 million, and in my opinion isn’t on the same level as Javi Martínez, who would demand a similar fee. I wouldn’t want to waste so much of our transfer budget on a defensive midfielder unless he was world-class, and I don’t think Bender is at that level.
Still, he’s a suitable option for the position, and would no doubt improve under Wenger’s guidance. Which player would you like to see arrive in this position? Let us know below.