Published: 11 October, 2013

NICKLAS Bendtner insists that he is a “changed” man as he bids to reignite his Arsenal career and win back faithful fans.

The forgotten striker has spent the previous two seasons out on loan at Sunderland and Juventus, respectively, but has found himself back at the Emirates after failing to secure a move away from north London in the summer.

The 25-year-oldºº has faced a lot of criticism from supporters during his time at the club, with many believing he was either too arrogant or simply not focused enough on improving as a player.

Bendtner, however, believes that becoming a father and his experiences away from the Gunners have made him a different person. “First of all I had a baby, which changed me a lot,” he told Arsenal Player.

“I think a lot of people say that you have babies and they change you, but for me I could really feel a big difference to my life.

“Also being abroad showed me a lot of different things and different aspects of how to live and how to cope with problems and things like that. I think that has given me a lot more as a man.”

Bendtner also insists that the wider perception of him is wrong, and feels that some of his previous statements have been misinterpreted.

“If people don’t like me, that’s fair enough.

“If people can’t accept that sometimes you’re young and make mistakes and move on, that’s not up to me.

“I basically said I think that anybody who plays football in the world would love to be the best. I think that’s a normal statement and that got changed to me saying that I was the best player in the world.

“I don’t know where that came from. I still listen to it, still see it. If people want to believe that, then that’s that.”