Arsenal Transfer News: Joao Moutinho, Lars Bender Would Be Perfect for Gunners

Arsenal's season has been a challenge so far, with the Gunners only just hovering in and around the Champions League qualification places.

Many repetitious issues have faced Arsene Wenger's team—with the problems in defence and midfield rearing their ugly heads once again, as we have seen in the many years gone by.

Wenger was recently defiant when discussing his team's defensive attributes with the club's official website, as reported by ESPN:

"

If you look [at us] as a unit, I want to give credit to my team for defending well because we are in the top two teams in the speed to win the ball back, we are the team that allows teams to get into their final third less than anybody else.

"

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Despite the coach's words, it is Arsenal's defending and play from the back which is the main issue for his team.

And reports now suggest Wenger could be about to move for two big-money midfielders—Joao Moutinho and Lars Bender.

Based on reports in the Italian media, the Express (h/t Metro) believes the Emirates club could make a £30 million offer to buy Moutinho from Monaco, in an attempt to bring the highly regarded midfielder to north London.

Another report from the Express (h/t Metro) claims Wenger will rush through a move for Bayer Leverkusen's brilliant player, Lars Bender.

The deal for the German is estimated to cost £19 million—bringing the pair in at just shy of the £50 million mark.

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Of course, this is a lot of money to lay out—but it would be cash well spent by Arsenal as they go on the hunt for trophies.

Last season's FA Cup victory will have reminded Arsenal fans what it feels like to be winners and they will want to see their team push on in the Premier League.

And the only way they can do that is by stiffening their midfield and defence. But strengthening this area of the pitch need not mean Wenger sacrifices flair and quality—and Moutinho and Bender can give Arsenal the best of both worlds.

Moutinho was one of the hottest players in Europe before his move to France. But now an exodus of talent from the principality could see Moutinho follow suit, after Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez escaped.

Moutinho has featured 16 times for Monaco this season in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, per WhoScored.com, and his exit would cripple his team.

But their loss would be Wenger's gain—with the Gunners acquiring a hugely impressive player who could facilitate the French coach's passing game.

However, Arsenal fan Samuel Jay C. does not believe the player will be arriving at the Emirates, saying the move is not currently believable:

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Bender is a player who has improved every season for the past few years and now looks ready to make the jump to one of Europe's top clubs. And at £19 million—he would be a snip. 

Both players have excellent mobility and they seem on the surface as "genuine" Arsenal players. Wenger has seemed hesitant to invest in his central midfield, opting for the huge attacking talents of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil instead.

But it is the central core that Wenger needs to now address and to be able to do that with these two players—under the £50 million mark—would be exceptional business.

Arsenal are a team who want to win the big competitions, but it is fair to say they have slipped from the bracket of clubs who genuinely contest the main trophies. However, they are not far away, and Moutinho and Bender would straight away elevate them back to where they want to be.

Both players have an innate quality about them—they are both different in terms of physique and attributes, but they are midfielders who know how to compete in the Champions League and will need no time at all to bed in.

Arsenal's best days may not be coming during the current campaign, but if they managed to sign Moutinho and Bender—they would be title contenders in 2014-15.