Arsenal Target Says No – What Gunners Will Be Missing

Lars Bender was one of 30 players called up to the Germany squad for the World Cup today, but there was another story taking the spotlight away from that. The Metro are reporting that the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder has quashed rumours of him leaving the Bundesliga club for Arsenal. So, without trying to rub it in, here is what you could have won.

Bender is a superb player, who needs to have a bit of a free role to play to his best. He is a central midfielder who loves to throw himself about and is impeccable in the tackle. He has played 28 games in the German topflight this season and has averaged nearly four tackles per game.

He has made 1.7 interceptions per game, on average, and 1.6 clearances.

He is also decent on the ball, though it is not his main strength. Bender has completed 78% of his passes and makes an average of 39 per game.

He is the type of player who charges around the central areas getting in opponent’s faces. He would have provided a lot of energy into the Arsenal side and added some real quality. This video will show you a bit more of what he is about, and why Arsenal fans should be gutted he won’t be joining.