I don’t think anyone would blame the Arsenal players and Arsene Wenger for having gone out on the lash last night, when they got back to London in a great mood after claiming all three points with a terrific battling performance against Man City. But that is not the sort of Bender I mean.
The German international midfielder Lars Bender used to be the subject of lots of Arsenal transfer rumours and his twin brother Sven, who plays for Borussia Dortmund, has also been linked with us, although to a lesser extent. They both play in the same position, defensive midfield, and that is certainly a position that Arsenal have needed to strengthen, so I wonder why the rumours have largely disappeared.
According to the former Germany international Dietmar Hamann, who used to play that position himself, the transfer talk about Arsenal and one of the Bender twins should not just be a media rumour, it should be the bit of business that Arsene Wenger makes sure of in this January transfer window, according to a Metro report.
Hamaan also reckons that the Borussia Dortmund star Ilkay Gundogan, who we have been heavily linked with in recent Arsenal transfer rumours, is not the right player to fix the Gunners in midfield. He is too much like what we have already and is too keen to get forward, unlike the Bender twins, especially Lars who plays for Bayer Leverkusen.
Hamaan said, “There are players out there, who would instantly make Arsenal a better team.
“They are supposed to be looking at Ilkay Gundogan at Borussia Dortmund. He’s a very good footballer – but he is a typical Arsenal player.
“He won’t want to do the dirty work. His instinct is to join in further up the pitch, get a few forward passes going and try to weigh in with a few goals.
“For me, Arsenal would be much better served going for one of the Bender brothers, especially Lars.”
I agree, even though our own Francis Coquelin is setting down his own marker. And there is a big bonus with Lars, because he has only recently returned from an injury that kept him from featuring in the Champions League for Leverkusen this season, so he would not be cup-tied. Over to you Arsene…