Nicklas Bendtner

Nicklas Bendtner (born January 16, 1988) is a Denmark professional football (soccer), who plays as a striker for England club Arsenal F.C. in the Premier League.

At 6' 5", Bendtner possesses a height advantage over many defender (football), which poses him as an aerial threat.

Club career

Born in Copenhagen, Bendtner started playing football for Copenhagen club Kjøbenhavns Boldklub. He scored four goals in six Danish national youth team matches, before joining England club Arsenal F.C. in the summer of 2004. He formed a prolific striking partnership at the Arsenal reserve team, with reserve teammate Arturo Lupoli. Bendtner's first team debut for Arsenal came on October 25, 2005, in a Football League Cup match against Sunderland A.F.C] at the Stadium of Light, as a substitute for Quincy Owusu-Abeyie in the final minutes.

Bendtner was loaned to Birmingham City F.C. in August 2006, with the loan initially lasting until January 2007. Bendtner made his debut for Birmingham City, as a substitute for Stephen Clemence, in the game against Colchester United F.C. on August 5 2006. He played the final half hour, scoring the winning goal.

The loan to Birmingham was extended through the end of the 2006-07 in English football as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger decided that the experience would be good for Bendtner; however, the loan agreement stated that Arsenal could recall him in an emergency situation. The 2006-07 season ended with the Blues as runner-up in the Football League Championship, thus winning Promotion and relegation to the FA Premier League.

Bendtner signed a new five-year contract with Arsenal in May 2007, and returned to the club for the Premier League 2007-08 season.

In his first match at the Emirates Stadium, a friendly versus Paris Saint Germain in the inaugural pre-season Emirates Cup tournament, Bendtner scored a goal, and assisted in another by Mathieu Flamini.

Manager Arsene Wenger played him only sparingly in the beginning of the 2007-08 season, which has led to media speculation of "showdown talks" between Bendtner and Wenger.

International career

Bendtner started his national team career by scoring three goals in three starts for the Denmark under-16 national team in February 2004. He then scored six goals in 15 games for the Denmark under-17 national team, and was named 2004 Danish Football Association Young Players of the Year.

On 9 May 2006 he was the youngest player selected for the Denmark under-21 national football team for the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship tournament. He got his under-21 debut on May 17, 2006, at the age of 18, scoring both goals in a Danish 2-0 victory over Spain national under-21 football team in a friendly match. At the 2006 European Under-21 Championship, Bendtner replaced Morten Rasmussen in the Danish starting line-up. When Bendtner was substituted with Rasmussen during the game against the Netherlands national under-21 football team, Bendtner told the press he found Rasmussen a lesser player. Bendtner was reprimanded, but played the rest of the tournament before Denmark were eliminated.

On 16 August 2006 Bendtner earned his first senior cap for the Denmark national football team, still only 18 years old, making him the seventh youngest player on the Danish senior national team ever. He was in the starting lineup for his debut game, a friendly match against Poland national football team. He scored a goal after 30 minutes, helping Denmark to a 2-0 win. On 1 September 2006, he played his second national team game, and came on as a substitute in a friendly match against Portugal national football team. He scored the final goal in a 4-2 win for Denmark.

International goals

Honours

- 2004 Danish Football Association Young Players of the Year
- The Football League 2006-07 Football League Championship runner-up
- Emirates Cup(2007)
- Amsterdam Tornament Winner 2005.2007