Arsenal Prepared to Move Back in For Lars Bender- Report

Arsenal are planning a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender, according to the Daily Mail.

The Gunners had made a bid for the player last summer which was rejected by the German club. However, Arsenal are willing to move back in for the player as they look to spruce up their centre of midfield to deputise for Mikel Arteta, who has entered his 30s and is unlikely to make the starting 11 on a regular basis next season.

Arsene Wenger is thereby looking to put in some fresh pairs of leg in the centre of midfield, failing which has seen the Gunners get exposed, as was evident player last summer but in their 6-0 battering at the hands of Chelsea last week.

The Gunners are willing to try their luck again this summer with the Frenchman unwilling to give up on the 24-year-old.

Bender is a box to box midfielder who can win the ball in the middle of the park and can deputise with Aaron Ramsey to secure the Arsenal midfield for years to come.

The report states that the Gunners are also keeping an eye on Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan but are sceptical of their chances of landing the player, with the likes of Manchester United on his trails.

The north London club are also keeping an eye on Morgan Schneiderlin with Wenger also a long term fan of the French international.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta believes that the Gunners still have a chance to win the title after falling seven points behind Chelsea with the loss. A win against Swansea will bring the gap down to four followed by a game against Manchester City in the weekend.

"This can change at any moment. There are two midweek games again and it can change quickly around. We just need to be there again because if there's any possibilities we have to be able to take it. Let's try again, it's been a difficult day but we need to stay together again and battle because what we can still get is very good," Arteta told www.arsenal.com.