Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Home / Commentary / Contributor Opinion / Why Bendtner must prove critics wrong

Why Bendtner must prove critics wrong

By 2011/01/28 24 Comments

Share

Author:

Nicklas-Bendtner-Arsenal

by MIKE HARVEY Nicklas Bendtner certainly hasn’t had the best of seasons this year, and the majority of fans believe he is – and never will be – good enough for The Arsenal.
From my point of view, I don’t think he’s as bad as some as critics make out. I feel some of us forget that he does have the potential to deliver moments of brilliance. Despite playing in the Carling Cup mostly, he’s scored some class goals this season – his goals against Ipswich and Newcastle stand out for me. I’ll certainly never forget his header against Spurs which won the game late on in December 2007.
However, on the other (more obvious) hand, we have the bad side of Bendtner. His first touch is very inconsistent, and his second touch is not great either. Also, his positioning can be a little suspect at times too. Although I do feel for him when he’s forced to play on the wing, but it seems that he just gets in the way of things sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe he is a good player to have in your side. He oozes confidence, he has a presence on the field which is vital for any striker, and he also has the ability to change the game in a flash.
However, I don’t think he fits in well enough to be a great Arsenal player. Obviously, he’s not the only one but I can’t say that I feel he is a player that moulds in with van Persie, Nasri, Cesc, Wilshere, etc…
Clearly, it’s not his fault. And I do admire his confidence. He also shows effort and a great desire to win. It’s just a shame he can’t always deliver.
I’d like to stress that this article is not some kind of an anti-Bendtner campaign – far from it. But I don’t believe Nicklas Bendtner will be successful with us. Despite the fact that Wenger has shown great faith in Nicklas, I don’t feel he will “make it” at The Arsenal.
I do think he’s a good player. But I don’t think Arsenal are the club for him to be at to show his potential.
t’s safe to say, that I am desperate for him to prove me wrong. There’s nothing better than seeing a player prove a doubter wrong!

{jcomments on}

GD Star Rating
loading...

RVP10

Owner of Arsenalinsider.com Red member and RVP10 supporter get to Emirates when time and money allow!!! Contact me on rob@arsenalinsider.com

More Posts

Categories: Contributor Opinion

Related Arsenal Stuff

  • abc

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • gundu

    For me, Bendtner’s latest few goals (against Man City and Ipswich especially) reminds me of Henry’s trademark finishes in the bottom right hand corner. And all his goals this season, if I’m not wrong, have come while he cuts inside from the left flank, which is eerily similar to Henry. Though I think his all-round game still needs lots of improvement…

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Darren

    We should sell him and add the money for a bid for Torres. There’d be no stopping us with a striker like that. And Cesc would be more likely to stay.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • The Captain

    The Danish team coach knows. “I can not believe that Arsene Wenger plays Nicklas out on the right wing. He has played there a few times before and it did not fit his playing style,” Olsen claims.

    “Nicklas is a central striker who need to be pulled out slightly to the left, from which he can then move into the pitch and use his good trickery. Nicklas struggles on the right wing because he has to continually cut inside. This is not his strength.”

    At the moment we have no left berth for Nik because it’s Nasri’s perch in our best 11 and he’s behind RVP and Chamakh down the middle. To my mind he should start on the left ahead of Arshavin when it becomes available or through rotation. Andre and Theo should compete for the other side.

    Dismissing Nik Bendtner is not an option for Wenger because he knows how good he is and he’s just trying to keep him involved, even out of position. Back Nik Bendtner, he’s a player!

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • gerald onen

    Eldo sends mixed messages…he is good ,not so good…cannot fit in the Arsenal…

    Well, i would like to stress in my opinion that Nicklas is going to be a Great at Arsenal.

    his first touch in the Ipswich game was excellent…reminded me of Rud the man, he has the presence and can pass the ball around and very good with crosses atleast better than Theo in that aspect.

    he gives Arsenal another dimension to the game….i would love to see him play right behind the Striker. On the wings if given more time he will improve and become better rmember Thierry??? well when Thierry was playing on the wings sometimes you would wonder……and in anycase who knew he would be a Legend??? That was the time all we knew was Anelka..and indeed he delivered not until he became too full of himself…

    Whenever Arsenal were 1 down i would have it in my mind that its 1-1 because Anelka was scoring in almost every Arsenal game…

    Fabregas, who knew he would become that influencial for both club and country..Arsene took a risk that upset me and fortunately paid off in revealing one of the brightest stars in football.. can you imagine having players like Edu on the bench and this young boy…wasting balls in midfield??? Same way we sometimes get frustrated with Bendtner is the same way we were feeling about these lads..so on my part i love Nicklas and believe in his potential. Aerial ability and ability ,willingness to help defend.

    He is going to do just that Eldo…prove you wrong.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Mark1

    i would have thought bendtner would be the prototypical arsenal striker (has a good presence in the air yet is also capable of linking up with players in the midfield and assisting the midfield in pushing forward).
    it’s only the opportunity he lacks. hopefully that goal will get him a few more appearance in league games when we have the chance.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Mark1

    common sense prevails!

    the same can be said for Song, Nasri, etc.
    Gotta give players like Bendtner and Denilson more support, and trust in Wenger’s judgement.
    And as I posted before, I agree that Bendtner offers good aerial threat whilst also being very mobile, the type of player who fits in well in an Arsenal team.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Mark1

    I think Bendtner can get away with it in cup games (he’s been exceptional on the wing lately), and would be solid in league games, but won’t ever excel in that position in league games up against premier league teams. he needs to start cup games as the no.1 striker (RVP doesn’t need to be starting cup games), and given as many league appearances as possible, when we have the luxury to do so.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Titi

    Whats wrong with you people? You have one of the best strikers alive in Robin Van Persie … and you want to BUY a new striker? Go become a Chelsea or ManCity fan, where you can see money get thrown out the window.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • AJ

    Bendtner simply needs games, he has only played a handful of times this season yet people are expecting him to play like the finished article the moment he steps on the pitch.. completely forgetting that a) he is a young player still developing and b) he is returning from injury.

    If Chamack is deemed good enough then how is it Bendtner isn’t. Does Chamack possess any qualities that Bendtner doesn’t? I’m convinced that if Bendtner was a regular starter he would score ~20goals, unfortunately the addition of Chamack has limited his chances but to me he is every bit as good as Chamack is now and has the potential to be much better.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Bellerophon86

    Bendtner is a good player. I dont think he’s played in the correct position. Playing him upfront doesn’t work, he doesn’t shield the ball as well as Chamakh. Playing him on the right doesnt work, because he doesnt have the pace to go around the outside of defences. His goals against Man City and Ipswich were class and both came from the left were he could cut inside on his left. I think last season he scored a really good goal from distance at the Emirates against Blackburn as well. Good player utilized incorrectly.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • oz gunner

    Buying torres is a stupid comment but to say we never will need another striker because we have RVP is crazy, yes he is unbelievable when hes fit and in form (a world beater in fact), but thats just it, can RVP stay that way. Every arsenal fan sure as hell hopes so but his past playing record goes against him. Simply put hes as soft as butter unfortunently

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • SuperRob7

    While I agree that Wenger judgement is usually quite good lets not forget about the many failures he’s had faith in. Aliadiere, stephanovs and silvestre spring to mind imediately but there are many more.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Darren

    I’ve been following Arsenal for over 30 years, don’t tell me to go support someone else. I was there in the eighties. I’ve lived through plenty – success and failures – with this club. I’m not talking about throwing money, I’m talking about buying elite class, class that would propel us forward. It doesn’t have to be a distant dream, it’s as close as you want it to be. It’s down to how you see it.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Mark1

    this is what i don’t understand. wouldn’t you rather be apart of something special, rather than a Manchester City type of success? Arsenal doesn’t buy trophies.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • oz gunner

    buying one player equates to man city style success huh?thats faulty logic, shit we bought arshavin for 15mil, thats pretty expensive and un-arsenal like, so by your logic we were trying to buy success like chelsea were we? Torres is too expensive/injury prone/overrated but by suggesting the purchase of 1 player when every other time we go the cheap alternative doesnt not mean we are buying success.

    I hate supporters like you, those blind fans who are content with players like denilson,squide, almunia.Blind faith in your team and every single player (never critising) doesnt make you a true fan, it makes you an idiot (titi included).

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Darren

    But what you’re talking about is actually a myth. We do buy players. Always have done. Everybody does. Arshavin, Vermaelen, Nasri, Sagna, Walcott, to name just a few of our more recent buys, all cost money. Just because the price tag is smaller than what Torres would be doesn’t mean that we don’t buy. That was the point of moving to a new stadium – to compete financially. To buy the players that would push to the very pinnacle.

    If you look back, Bergkamp was a big buy at the time and it helped transform the club. That’s what marque signings do.

    I’m not asking for wholesale changes, i’m merely asking for us to push and buy that one player that i believe would ignite us. Because i know that who Barcelona would want to face least between Bentdner and Torres. And we have the resources of making that happen.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Darren

    For an injury prone, over-rated player playing in a dour Liverpool team his record is pretty phenomenal. But i do agree that he might be a little expensive. He’d look great upfront in our team though (in my opinion!)

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Darren

    Why is it a stupid comment?

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • BBB

    NB52 is a BIG MATCH player. Let me count the game that he was play …hmmm PORTO3score, BARCELONA1score, Ipswich

    if he get a chance same as Chamakh. (Under team player such as RVP+NASRI+THEO+JACK+FAB+SONG). HE will proof everyone

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Goonericious

    Yeah Bendtner’s great. No we shouldn’t buy players. No need. We’ve more than enough trophies already with all these top players. Bet Barca are terrified of facing Denilson and Squillaci. They may not even turn up for the game the fear is so great.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Goonericious

    Prototypical in the way that he couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo? His goal ratio to chance is woeful and he’s certainly not mobile as you stated earlier. He’s as cumbersome as they come. Do you actually understand football?

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Mark1

    oz gunner, the point is that with RVP, our clear no.1 striker at arsenal, an elite class striker won’t come to our club because they won’t get games. elite class doesn’t want to be sitting on the bench. same can be said for an elite class midfielder; Song, Wilshere, Cesc, Nasri, Walcott, etc are our preferred players in the midfield. Our backline, Djourou and vermaelen will be our first choice, so we’re not going to get an elite class CB to have them sit on the bench, and nor would an elite class CB want to join us.

    Do you think an elite class player would like to replace denilson as the squad midfielder? to replace bendtner as the squad striker?

    it’s just not as simple as “buy elite class players”. you may hate supporters like me, but supporters like you have no idea.
    every EPL club has squad players like Denilson and Bendtner, but probably half as good.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Mark1

    yes, lets buy some elite players to take Denilson and Squilaccis places on the bench, so that they can play Carling cup now and then, and FA Cup. Why not? no need to worry about satisfying them with regular starts in champions league and premier league. just buy them!

    GD Star Rating
    loading...