But it will see them reaffirm their efforts to sign a key man from a Premier League rival…
Arsenal will likely move for Morgan Schneiderlin in the summer after Barcelona emerged as shock candidates for the signing of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender.
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The Gunners have long scouted the 25-year-old but, strangely,despite their transfer ban the Catalan giants are now seen as the main suitor Bender.
The move will, however, cause Arsenal to focus their full attention on capturing primary target in the middle; Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, according to Daily Mirror.
Whilst Bender was on Arsene Wenger’s shortlist of defensive midfield targets, the Gunners main man was always the Saints star.
And Arsenal are already quietly confident of getting the star, reports the Mirror, despite interested from table topping rivals Manchester United and Tottenham.
Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan is also on the Arsenal wish-list but only if they can’t get their preferred option in the Frenchman.
Despite Francis Coquelin only just committing to a new deal it seems that Arsenal are targeting a top quality signing to compete with the 23 year old in the middle.