Arsene Wenger is in the transfer market for a holding midfielder, who could bolster his team in the remainder of the English Premier League season.
With Mikel Arteta set to be out of action for three months, there has been a serious need for Arsenal to sign a defensive midfielder.
With not many holding midfielders at Wenger's disposal, they were forced to cut short Francis Coquelin's loan spell at Charlton Athletic and bring him back to the Emirates.
The player is even expected to start today against Manchester City, though they have Mathieu Flamini to play the same role in the all important clash.
There is no doubt Wenger is falling short of options when it comes to a defensive midfield position.
Former Manchester City and Liverpool midfielder, Dietmar Hamann has suggested that Wenger should look at German twins Lars Bender and Sven Bender to sign during the transfer window.
"For me, Arsenal would be much better served, going for one of the Bender brothers, especially Lars," said Hamann to the Daily Mirror.
"Either of those boys would give Wenger something he hasn't got in midfield. Someone who can read the game, is naturally defensively minded and who will thrive, operating in front of the back four, making sure Arsenal don't get exposed.
"Over the last few seasons, Mikel Arteta has been doing that job – and, with all due respect to Mikel, he is a player who used to be given a free role on the left by Everton.
"It's square pegs in round holes – and a team with ambitions of winning the title won't get away with that in such an important position.
Both the players play in the Bundesliga with Sven representing Borussia Dortmund and Lars playing for Bayer Leverkusen.
Though, Arsenal might have an array of attacking players in their line up, they still have not possessed a good defensive midfielder for years, feels Hamann.
"It [defensive midfielder] is the most important area of the modern game," said the German. "Having a player with the discipline not to get caught out of position, the intelligence to recognise danger and the ability to snuff it out before it becomes a problem for his defenders.
"Patrick Vieira was the master. He was the best in the business for years and one of the main reasons why Arsenal were so successful.
"So, I can't understand why Arsene Wenger hasn't addressed the problem. It's been holding his team back for too long now and it's the reason why the title is between [Manchester] City and Chelsea, with Arsenal fighting for fourth place yet again."
Arsenal have been heavily linked to two solid defensive midfielders in the form of William Carvalho and Morgan Schneiderlin, who play for Sporting Clube de Portugal and Southampton respectively.
But nothing concrete has come up for either player and the Gunners might have to wait till the summer before going in for a signing.
