4 players who could solve Arsenal’s midfield problems

West Bromwich Albion v Southampton - Premier League
Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina was linked with a move to Arsenal last summer.

#3 Sven Bender – Bayer Leverkusen

Brazil v Germany - Final: Men's Football - Olympics: Day 15
Arsenal's Head of Recruitment could convince Sven Bender (left) to come to England.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Sven Bender has been an Arsenal target for years, and the German defensive midfielder should be on their radar again given what he’d bring to the side.

The 28-year-old only joined Leverkusen last summer, but Arsenal’s Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat could convince Bender to come to England, given he was the man who brought the German to former side Borussia Dortmund in the first place. He would likely cost in excess of the £11m transfer fee that took him to the BayArena.

Twin brother of Lars, Sven has averaged a tackle or interception every 22 minutes, while boasting an 85% tackle success rate. In 1655 minutes of Bundesliga football, Bender has been disposed of just three times. He would be ideal for Arsenal and wouldn’t break the bank.

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