With the latest news that both Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla are going to be on the treatment table for at least three months, it is imperative that Arsenal find at least one player in the January transfer window, and it will surely be a defensive midfielder if we are to be serious title contenders.
There are many names being bandied about, but it is unlikely that any truly world-class DMs will be available in January, but that may have changed now with the quotes from Michael Schade, the Bayer Leverkusen chairman. He has admitted their German international midfielder Lars Bender could be open to moving to a bigger club. He said: “Bayer Leverkusen can’t be as arrogant to say that we are creating world stars and they will retire here,”
“If we are able to create a world star or top player, then one day this player wants to play for one of the top [clubs in the world], of course.”
The 26 year-old is definitely world-class, and would surely have had a World Cup Winner’s medal now if he hadn’t been cruelly injured just before the last tournament. I would say that Schade has made these comments now to alert clubs that Leverkusen are ready to cash in on Bender, and Arsenal will be unlikely to find a better DM, especially in January.
Bayer are currently 9th in the Bundesliga, and are going to knocked out of the Champions League this week unless they beat Barcelona, so there is nothing for Bender to stay at the German club for this season. He may cost a fortune but I think Wenger should give Herr Schade a ring right now!