Nicklas Bendtner found the net for Arsenal against Hull City

Published: 10 December, 2013
by RICHARD OSLEY

"IN Arsene We Trust", say the supporters, and even louder now their club’s manager has parked them at the top of the Premier League.

But Gunners fans at the Emirates might have still been a little alarmed by one of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger’s assessments over the weekend.

With crunch matches against Napoli, Manchester City and Chelsea up next, Wenger said he was happy to turn to Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, if necessary, as the fixture list becomes tighter.

He insisted on Sunday that the Danish striker had shown he was ready for action after scoring in a rare start against Hull City last week

That clinical headed goal was, however, sadly for the forward, seen in the stands as a jokey matter rather than as a serious alternative to Olivier Giroud, who has manned the forward line virtually on his own so far this season. 

Instead of persevering with Bendtner, whose attitude has been questioned on several occasions by the home support, there has been hope that Arsenal would follow up the capture of Mesut Ozil by signing a big-name forward to lighten Giroud’s load.

But Wenger appeared to suggest the answer to that problem was staring them in the face.

He said: “Picking Nicklas Bendtner against Hull was maybe the less obvious decision, but he worked hard. I told him, ‘if you work hard you will get a chance’, and at some stage Olivier Giroud needs a breather as well. Olivier has played many games and it is always in a fighting mode. You always wonder how far you can go like that and the schedule has not been very gentle with us. We play three games in seven days. It’s good to see we can rely on Bendtner.”

Wenger has been unable to turn to his other recognised forward, Yaya Sanogo, who joined on a free transfer from Auxerre in the summer. He played twice before injuring his back. The Gunners manager said last month that Sanogo’s injury record did make him a “gamble” but that he had “huge talent” which could one turn him into a “prolific talent” at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal travel to Italy knowing a draw would be enough to top their Champions League group.