Arsenal have been linked with a move for Real Madrid central midfielder Nuri Sahin, possibly on loan for the forthcoming 2012-13 season, in a move which would make a lot of sense for the Gunners.

Sahin moved to Madrid last summer in a €10 million deal after impressing hugely at previous club Borussia Dortmund, who he helped to the 2011 Bundesliga title.

However, injuries and competition for places restricted Sahin to only four La Liga appearances last season as his new team also won the league.

Aged 23, Sahin has already accumulated good experience despite his youth, with more than 30 caps for his international side Turkey and more than 150 league games played in the top flights of Holland, Germany and Spain.

Here are five reasons why Nuri Sahin makes sense for the Gunners as a transfer target—and why Arsenal themselves are also a good fit for the player.

Passing Game with Emphasis on Midfield Control

Arsenal have long been associated with playing some of the best football in the English Premier League, from the teams containing the likes of Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp right up to the more recent sides, filled with the likes of Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky.

The Gunners and boss Arsene Wenger favour a patient buildup, with plenty of passing to feet incorporating the midfield as often as possible.

Nuri Sahin has many abilities as a footballer but perhaps his single biggest asset is his passing.

With a fantastically talented left foot, Sahin loves to pick the ball up deep in midfield and orchestrate a play, though he is creative and adventurous enough to do the same in the final third, too.

Quality in Midfield

Arsenal's squad depth is fine, but the quality of the starters is arguably not as high as it has been in seasons past.

Abou Diaby has talent but has yet to perform consistently since suffering an injury in late 2006.

The injury problems of Jack Wilshere mean Arsenal will be without him until at least October.

Tomas Rosicky, Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey are all very talented players too, but all three have had issues with fitness or consistency in the past, though Song put that to bed last season with a series of fine displays.

Nuri Sahin has the talent to cement himself a starting role right from the off, has the ability to play a key role in both defensive and offensive areas for the Gunners and can ensure the quality of the midfield does not dip if he plays instead of, for example, Ramsey.

Sahin Needs Football to Get His Real Madrid Career Back on Track

Despite playing a key role for Dortmund in winning their league before joining Real Madrid, Sahin struggled to nail down a first team spot.

Sami Khedira, Lass Diarra and Xabi Alonso all offered stiff competition.

Sahin needs games to get himself back to the great level he previously attained, and a season-long loan spell would give him the chance to do that.

Of course, it also gives Arsenal a top European player for a year without shelling out loads of cash, safe in the knowledge that in the rare case that he isn't a success, they also don't have to worry about selling him again or recuperating money.

Offers Arsenal Creativity Which Is Lacking Without Wilshere

Arsenal love a passing game, but possession is nothing without penetration.

Jack Wilshere in full flow gives them a crazy amount of ability at breaking down an opposition defence, but with the Englishman injured, Arsenal need the creativity to come from elsewhere.

Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all have their own strengths and can fashion chances, but consistent and reliable ammunition for the forwards will come from more central and slightly deeper.

And Sahin can provide it.

First time balls, holding onto possession awaiting movement, playing wide or through defenders, Sahin has a great range of passing and Arsenal's front line usually has the movement to utilise that to its greatest potential.

Champions League Football All Around

Top players want to play in the top competitions, and Arsenal are once again in the UEFA Champions League.

Not only would Sahin get his wish of playing in it again—and featuring more often than he did at Real Madrid—he also has some experience of playing in the top tournaments already to offer Arsenal.

True, not much—he has played barely a dozen times in Europe at any stage of his career—but he is a calm, composed and authoritative player who will certainly rise to the occasion.

There are so many plus points for Arsenal at getting a great player like Nuri Sahin for a year that—if it is actually attainable for the club—Arsene Wenger should have very little thinking to do.

He could just turn out to be a key piece of the jigsaw for the Gunners in finishing high up the Premier League again, and closing the gap on the Manchester two.

Of course, then next summer they would have to think about convincing him to join permanently.

Follow @karlmatchett