Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Eduardo Vargas, Sven and Lars Bender Rumours

Arsenal could be welcoming Eduardo Vargas to the Emirates this summer and also look set to continue their search for a holding midfielder.

According to Sportsmediaset, per Will Giles of Metro, the striker is "in talks with Arsenal over an £11.3 million transfer," with international team-mate Alexis Sanchez reportedly eager for Vargas to join the Gunners.

The 25-year-old is currently lighting up the Copa America with some excellent performances, scoring four goals and making an assist in his five appearances at the tournament, including this excellent strike in the semi-final:

BeIN Sports USA's David Cartlidge had been impressed with Vargas' performances:

However, the forward is currently out of favour at Napoli and spent last season on loan with Queens Park Rangers.

In 21 league appearances for QPR, Vargas struck just three times.

While Arsenal would undoubtedly provide far more ammo for the Chilean than he received at QPR, and his performances in the Copa show that he does possess quality, Vargas is not the prolific, proven goalscorer they need to fire them to the Premier League title.

With the acquisitions of Petr Cech, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in recent years, Arsene Wenger has shown that he will no longer settle for signing mediocre players instead of genuine winners.

Signing Vargas instead of a more prolific hitman would be something of a step back for the Gunners.

Wenger Keen on German Duo

According to Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph, Wenger is monitoring Sven and Lars Bender after seemingly ending his interest in Arturo Vidal.

The Frenchman spoke ahead of the January transfer window about the need for a central midfielder, but the emergence of Francis Coquelin in holding midfield stayed Wenger's hand in the transfer market.

Per the Guardian's David Hytner, he said:

"

If you look at the number of games some players played and the injuries we have with [Jack] Wilshere, [Aaron] Ramsey and [Mikel] Arteta, we are a bit short at the moment in midfield.

There is a need there [to enter the market] but the right opportunity has to come up. To buy, simply to buy, is not what we want to do but if the right opportunity comes up, we will do it.

"

Peter Dejong/Associated Press

Both of the Bender brothers are more experienced and established forces than Coquelin, however, and would add steel to the Gunners' squad. 

Further, with the likes of Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini all the wrong side of 30, another younger but proven midfielder would be a great benefit to Arsenal.

Bundesliga expert Clark Whitney believed the pair would have contributed to Germany's outstanding strength in defensive midfield had they both been fit:

Of the two, Lars would seem a slightly better option. According to Squawka, Lars won 56 tackles and 113 aerial duels last season, compared with Sven's 42 and 49, though Lars did enjoy significantly more playing time.

WhoScored illustrated in 2014 why Lars is highly regarded in Germany:

That said, Sven remains a quality player in his own right and is also a more accomplished passer than his brother. Per Squawka, Sven maintained a 79 per cent passing accuracy last season, while Lars averaged 70 per cent.

Either would make an excellent signing for Arsenal and would represent a step up from both Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund, so they may well be tempted to make the switch.

A top-quality holding midfielder is the one thing missing from the Gunners midfield, so signing one of the Benders alongside Cech will make Arsenal a far more stern proposition next season.