Nicklas Bendtner Biography

Name :
Nicklas Bendtner

Born :
January 16, 1988

Birth place :
Copenhagen, Denmark

Height :
6' 3'' (1.91m)

Weight :
78 kg

Position :
Striker

Squad Number :
52

Previous Club(s) :
Birmingham City (loan)
FC Copenhagen

Joined Arsenal :
August 01, 2004

2004/05
Nicklas signed for the Club in the summer of 2004 and instantly went into the Reserve side where he performed impressively alongside Italian striker Arturo Lupoli.

2005/06
Nicklas played a more prominent role in the Reserve side and enjoyed a prolific campaign, scoring 18 goals from his 25 appearances. He made his first-team debut on October 25 in the League Cup at the Stadium of Light when he came on as a last-minute substitute.

He came off the bench three times in that competition during the season and admitted he was starting to feel at home.

"I believe the main thing is that I have settled well now. I no longer miss my home and family as much and I am thankful for their support. I don't have to think about so many new things any more and I can concentrate on football and benefiting from training. I have got used to the style of play in England and I think that it shows and that is why my confidence is high."

2006/07
In August 2006, Nicklas was loaned out to Championship side Birmingham City to gain valuable first-team experience.

He made the perfect start to his loan spell when he came off the bench to score winning goal against Colchester in August. He went on to make 42 appearances and scored 11 goals and was instrumental in Birmingham's push for promotion, though they were eventually pipped to the title by Sunderland.

The deal was initially only until January 2007 but was extended to the end of the season. Nicklas also ended the campaign as a full international after making his Denmark debut in a friendly win against Poland in August, a game in which he scored.

2007/08
Nicklas signed a new long-term contract with the Club in May and set his sights on more opportunities in the first team: "It has always been my goal to get my breakthrough at Arsenal. There were no other clubs that were interesting for me. I know I have the right qualities, or will be able to develop them. I truly believe that I can break through."

The Dane's first appearance in the first team came in the Emirates Cup against Paris Saint Germain’ he scored in the game to announce his return from a successful year out on loan.

He scored his first competitive goal in a League Cup match against Newcastle United in September 2007 and he went on to net nine times in 17 starts and 23 substitute appearances.

Nicklas made his first Premier League start at the end of December at Everton, though he was sent off for two bookable offences. But his first league goal couldn't have come on a bigger stage. After coming on as a substitute against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium on December 22, he headed home with his first touch to score what proved to be the winner.

2008/09
Nicklas began the season wanting to feature more for the first team, and he certainly did that in his first season as an established member of Arsène Wenger's squad. “The main thing for everyone I think is to play a lot and of course I want to get more regularly into the squad. Then I want to progress in my own game. I want to prove to everyone what I can do.”

During the season he confirmed himself as one of the Club's top strikers as he made 17 starts in the Premier League, scoring nine times including important late winners against Bolton and Hull.

He appeared in a Champions League and FA Cup Semi-Finals against Manchester United and Chelsea respectively, though he couldn't help Arsenal progress to the Final of either competition.

2009/10
Would Arsenal have won the title if Nicklas had been fit all season?

It's debatable but the cold, hard facts suggest that the Dane could have made a difference. He scored 12 goals in 21 starts last term, including nine in 11 appearances from February to April after he had shaken off the cobwebs following a long-term groin problem.

Had he been fit from November to January - a period when Robin van Persie was also sidelined - there's every chance Arsenal would have packed more power up front and perhaps not dropped 10 points from games against Sunderland, Chelsea, Burnley and Everton.

Nicklas could certainly be happy with his contribution when he was on the field. He started the campaign on the right of a three-pronged attack but got his chance in his favoured central role in the New Year. And he gave Arsenal some much-needed muscle as well as an eye for goal.

Nicklas was probably the only player in the 2009/10 season's squad who could have thumped home that header at Stoke in February while his late efforts against Hull and Wolves in March and April respectively kept Arsenal on the coat-tails of their title rivals.

He shone in Europe too, netting the first Champions League hat-trick at Emirates Stadium when Porto were dispatched and giving Arsenal an all-too-brief glimmer of hope at the Nou Camp.