Bender or Schneiderlin – Who would be the best target for Arsenal? Head to head analysis

Morgan Schneiderlin, 24 years old, Southampton

Position

Likewise Bender, he plays "#6" or "#8". He can play deep as a proper "Defensive Midfielder" or CM in a 4-2-3-1 "double-pivot".

Profile

Schneiderlin's profile is more oriented forward comparatively to Bender's (36.81 passes forward per game and he provided 29 key passes compared to the 18 the German has provided). He is a very efficient link between the defence and the attack and proves himself to be more than useful for transitions. The Frenchman reads the game well and is to some extent the "global hub" of the team, if I may say. He can dictate from deep but can also go forward when he feels the need to help.

Schneiderlin makes a great job of winning the ball back and release it efficiently for one of his teammates. As for Bender, he is a very good tackler and has the 4th highest rate in the Premier League. He is utterly reliable in terms of work rate for he is physically good and his stamina allows him to put in all the needed energy. Hence his good positioning and his mobility throughout the game.

Overall, he is a ball winner but also a deep playmaker. This double combination is a real opportunity for his team, because he presses well and on the other hand is very good at passing the ball around (he completed 89% of his passes this season, more than any other Southampton player).

Who should we buy? Read on....