Whilst several Gunners fans throughout the country may ardently disagree with the following statement, Arsene Wenger and his determined Arsenal outfit simply won’t prove serious title challengers this season unless a few more big names are drafted in at the Emirates before transfer deadline-day.
Among the rest of the Premier League’s loyal followers, such a notion seemingly arrives as a pretty obvious one. Much has been said about Olivier Giroud and the subsequent role he will play at the club this season, for despite his impressive goal record so far in the English top-flight, the 28-year-old Frenchman just isn’t seen as the ideal centre-forward for Wenger with all things considered.
The Gunners have therefore been linked with a vast array of talent in the striking department this summer, yet their overall activity in the transfer market has thus far been anything but extensive to say the very least. However, although the now unlikely signing of a player like Karim Benzema would certainly have gone down well at the Emirates throughout 2015/16, Arsenal arguably need cover for Francis Coquelin in the defensive-midfield position more than anything else this term.
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So then, in light of Arsene Wenger’s reported long-term interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender over the last few seasons, will the Gunners finally make a move for the widely admired German before the closure of the summer transfer window?
Let’s face it, although the emergence of Arsenal’s Francis Coquelin certainly provided the Emirates faithful with a positive talking point last season, the uncompromising French battler will ultimately need some back up this campaign if his side are to prove successful in 2015/16.
Everyone knows that landing some meaningful silverware is now the North Londoners’ true aim – but if the Gunners expect Coquelin to single-handedly do the business both domestically and in the Champions League this term – Wenger will understandably be on the end of a fair bit of abuse once his side inevitably crumble under the weight of such lofty expectation. Europe’s finest outfits simply need to go into every passing season with adequate squad depth if they don’t want to be left behind.
Arsenal admittedly aren’t competing in the same ball-park as Chelsea or Manchester City when it comes to external finances, though. Both of the aforementioned clubs have been somewhat blessed in that department recently, whether or not their respective fan-bases choose to attribute their subsequent success to such an inconvenient notion. Either way, the Gunners may not be able to source a whole succession of marquee names each season in order to improve their fate out on the pitch – but does that mean Wenger has no cash left in the bank to spare this summer? – of course it doesn’t.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender would therefore represent a perfect new addition to the ranks at the Emirates this term, even if Arsenal still in-fact require another centre-forward to help them out up-top sooner rather than later. With both Francis Coquelin and Lars Bender patrolling the midfield for Wenger in 2015/16 however, the Emirates faithful would certainly have reason for renewed confidence.
The 26-year-old German may invariably set the Gunners back a bit in terms of resources this month – considering the midfielder’s reported £18 million price-tag – but perhaps his transfer fee ultimately highlights a certain hurdle that Arsenal just have to jump this summer.
Lars Bender is more than a mere ball-winner in the middle of the park after all. He has represented Germany on the international stage several times throughout his career, as well as turning out in the Champions League for Bayer on many different occasions. By all accounts, his is just the kind of experience Arsenal readily need at this current moment in their title quest.
Bender has proven a worthy captain out on the pitch at the BayArena, for he is a player that certainly leads by example. His overall leadership qualities are only matched by his exceptional reading of the game, brave demeanour just in front of the back-four, and classy style when releasing his teammates and finding space in the final third.
The talented German star may not represent the ultimate defensive-midfield candidate for Arsenal in the modern era by any means, but as he arguably symbolises the best available player out there to fill such an important void at the Emirates this season, Arsene Wenger should arguably be looking to complete this particular deal as soon as possible this summer.
If the current Gunners boss chooses against signing a player of Lars Bender’s description before transfer deadline-day however, the consequences will surely harm his side going into the new season.
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