Regarded as one of Europe’s top prospects, Nicklas Bendtner is learning from some of European football’s finest coaches at Arsenal. The striker had been rising through the ranks since moving from Copenhagen in the summer of 2004. At 1.91m, Bendtner is tall and powerful, but the youngster has a deft touch on the floor.
Playing up front, his intelligent passing enticed midfield colleagues into attacking positions and his neat touches often worked space where there appeared none. He has the ability to link midfield and attack with intelligence then finish off the move with precision.
Born in Danish capital, Copenhagen, Bendtner started playing football for Copenhagen club Kjøbenhavns Boldklub, where he scored four goals in six Danish national youth team matches before joining Arsenal.
On October 2005, Bendtner made his first team debut for Arsenal in a League Cup match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, entering the scene as a substitute for Quincy Owusu-Abeyie in the final minutes. After scoring 18 goals in 24 matches for Arsenal’s reserves in the 2005/06 season, Bendtner was loaned out to Championship side Birmingham City in August 2006, with the loan initially lasting until January 2007.
The loan to the Midlands club was extended through the end of the 2006/07 season as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger decided that the experience would be good for Bendtner.
The 2007/08 season saw the Dane finally begin his first-team career at Arsenal as he signed a new five-year contract after having a successful season on loan at Birmingham, helping Midlands club return to the Premier League.
Bendtner’s first competitive goal for the Gunners came on September 2007, in a 2-0 home victory over Newcastle United in a Carling Cup match. On December 2007, Arsenal had a major victory against arch-rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium, Bendtner playing substitute, powered home the winner with his first touch. He took only 1.8 seconds to perform this winning feat, which is the fastest goal ever scored by a substitute.
A week later, he saw red on his first Premier League start as he was sent off for two bookable offences in the game against Everton at Goodison Park. Part of an exciting new generation coming through for Denmark, Bendtner was the youngest player selected for the Danish U-21 national squad for the 2006 European U-21 Championship tournament.
He earned his U-21 debut against Spain in a friendly match on May 2006, scoring both goals in his side’s 2-0 win. Bendtner, still only 18 years old, then got his first senior cap for the Danish national team in a friendly match against Poland on August 2006, making him the seventh youngest player on the Danish senior national team ever.
Full name: Nicklas Bendtner
Date of birth: January 16, 1988
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Nationality: Danish
Height: 1.91 m
Weight: 78 kg
Club: Arsenal
Position: Striker
Number: 26
Honours:
Danish Under-17 Player of the Year (2004)
Danish Talent of the Year (2007)