Five Defensive Midfielders Arsenal should sign

With the January transfer window just around the corner, Arsenal should certainly be one of the sides looking to bolster their squad. The stand out position they should be looking to strengthen is in central defensive midfield. Flamini is quite simply dreadful and club captain Mikel Arteta who is the stronger of the two candidates is rarely fit for first team selection. Acquiring the signature of a solid midfield anchor could propel Arsenal to future glory and potentially turn them into a dominant force in the Premier League. Here are the 5 defensive midfielders Arsenal should consider obtaining going into the new year.

1. Lars Bender

Leverkusen’s Lars Bender had another impressive season with the German giants last season, helping them to third place in the Bundesliga. An exceptionally proficient tackler, Bender also possesses a reading of the game which is unparalleled in his team, and could undoubtedly take up this position for Arsenal. He is also one of the surest players on the ball, and his form has been noticed at the international level, with Bender now a regular fixture in Joachim Low’s German squads. Arsenal would have to pay a substantial amount for the German, but it would certainly be a worthy investment.

2. Sami Khedira

Source: realmadrid.com

Sami Khedira would be another massive boost to the gunners and could be the vital difference in sustaining defensive stability in the Arsenal side. He is calm and composed on the ball which is imperative in an Arsenal midfielder and is also disciplined and controlled out of possession. The signing of Khedira would mean paying out large wages but success comes at a cost and Sami would be a massive step towards that. The 27 year old has been pushed out of the Madrid side with the arrival of Toni Kroos, and being close friends with fellow German Mesut Ozil, a move to Arsenal could be on the cards in January.

3. Luiz Gustavo

The Brazilians presence often goes unnoticed on the pitch, and although he doesn’t look physically impressive, Gustavo is a fierce battler and would provide Arsenal with a superb platform from which they can perform. He is a great tackler and has high levels concentration, rarely switching off which is something Arsenal are constantly susceptible of. Gustavo would be a risk due to poor discipline as he is an avid tackler, but it would be a risk worth taking as his hard work would be priceless in Arsenal’s current midfield.

4. Maxime Gonalons

Source: olweb.fr

Gonalons isn’t a natural defensive midfielder, but has all the attributes to be one and shield Arsenal’s back four. He has become a figurehead for the stability so desperately required at Lyon and can do the same here at Arsenal. The 25 year old is disciplined, intelligent and has excellent positional sense. Arsenal are in strong need for a powerful tough-tackling midfielder and Gonalons could be their man. Considering Lyons current financial state, it wouldn’t be too difficult to pry him from their grasps, and should be definitely be considered by Arsene Wenger.

5. Morgan Schneiderlin

Source: saintsfc.co.uk

The saints midfielder would be a magnificent addition to Wenger’s squad and would bring a cool head along with decisive action as he is a natural at assessing the game situation. The French international is also a solid passer of the ball and boasts a 90% pass success rate this season, reiterating his quality of maintaining possession . The 25 year old would be a voice of calm in the centre of the park and a real hard worker acting as the cohesive glue to hold the team together in difficult matches. Schneiderlin has definitely attracted attention from rival clubs with his standout performances this year but should undoubtedly be on Wenger’s radar in the upcoming month.