Lars Bender

JazzG

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2588435/Arsenal-eye-Leverkusen-midfielder-Lars-Bender-failed-bid-summer.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10720257/Arsenal-begin-process-of-identifying-eventual-successor-to-Arsene-Wenger.html

Looks like we may be in for him again, strong physical presence and very good at winning the ball back. We can't play Arteta and Per against counter attacking teams and Arteta does get found at the highest level so this is a position we need to strengthen.

speedy

Yep central midfield doesn't work at the moment.

Klaus

Would be a good but expensive buy. Schneiderlin is at the same level and has Premier League experience.

lorddulaarsenal

Don't think he'd be much cheaper though kla

Burnwinter

Lars "Air" Bender

Claudius

Bender in. Bendnter out.

Burnwinter

Bender for manager

Sorry. I'll stop bumping the thread with shithouse jokes now.

JazzG

Klaus wrote:
Would be a good but expensive buy. Schneiderlin is at the same level and has Premier League experience.

His previous contract had a clause which supposedly kicked in this year but signed a new contract earlier in the season. Rumours has it his current contract has one as well but not sure what kind of money it is.

I think Southampton will probably let Shaw go so they won't need to sell Schneiderlin. Even if they don't I reckon they'd want close to £20m for him. I think Bender looks the more versatile player with more potential. But like you say with Schneiderlin you know he won't need much time to adapt.

speedy

Quick does any know his fifa stats I've only seen him a few times ?
From memory Lars is more rounded then Sven. Isn't Sven the more defensive one he was incredible against Real last season in the cl he broke up so many of there attacks.
This guy is my number on target we need central midfielders who can do everything ramsey is one and Lars is the other :-)

Claudius

I wish we could get two midfielders just like Bender to replace Flamini and Arteta. if only it were possible to clone him. I really think our defensive problems stem from midfield (and to a lesser extent left back). We need guys who can harry and close passing lanes better than our midget clan

lorddulaarsenal

Are we going for the wrong Bender? Always got the impression we weren't linked to Sven as he was deemed unattainable

lorddulaarsenal

Claudius wrote:
I wish we could get two midfielders just like Bender to replace Flamini and Arteta. if only it were possible to clone him. I really think our defensive problems stem from midfield (and to a lesser extent left back). We need guys who can harry and close passing lanes better than our midget clan

A base of say Bender and Gustavo, Pogba or Marchisio would be super.

Then have three from Ramsey, ozil, jack, Chambo, santi, rosicky behind Costa

Claudius

i like your thinking, but i'd play only two of that lot behind Costa. we need another scorer on the team.

JazzG

Sven is more of an out and out defensive midfielder whereas Lars is more box to box but can play the defensive role as well. He has also filled in as a RB as well.

Lars has more to his game than Sven which explains why more top clubs after him. Bayern had him and Martinez on their shortlist a couple years ago. Unless Lars has a release clause I am not sure his club will let him go.

est

How has he done this season?

From what I've seen previously, get him in!

innervisionscm

Isn't Schneiderlin homegrown too? Another consideration.

I think Bender is more like Ramsey than a natural holding player.

GooneriC

If we want a replacement for Arteta we should be after Sven Bender. Lars isnt as good in that defensive area that Arteta occupies. Again , we needed a striker and got Ozil. I hope we dont go for Lars Bender as our Arteta replacement. He does not suit the role at all.

goon

We don't need a natural holding player, it's a waste of a position. City and Chelsea don't have one.

GooneriC

We arent Chelsea or City , we need that kind of player in front our defense.

JazzG

Another advantage of Lars is that he can play along with arteta or Flamini so could replace Ramsey/wilshere as well. If Bayern wanted him or Martinez is says to me he can play the holding role if needed. With Ramsey being defensively strong we can afford to have someone who isn't a pure DM.

Also with Sven very unlikely Dortmund will let him go, like with Reus they aren't gonna let too many first XI go.