Bendtner Deserves His Chance To Shine
1 comment December 29th, 2007
Kid Rock once said:
“They say I’m cocky, and I say,
‘What? It ain’t bragging if you do it
And you back it up’.”
Just several months into his Arsenal career, Nicklas Bendtner could feel justified in singing from the same songsheet.
I have never counted myself as a Bendtner fan. After watching him several times for Birmingham last season, I was distinctly unimpressed. He looked slow, disinterested, and unforgiveably lazy. Couple that with his comments threatening to leave Arsenal unless he receieved a first-team place and I had the impression of a ‘Big Time Charlie’ with more attitude than ability.
It seems that what Bendtner needed was the motivation of top level football. His talent had never been in question, and on the International stage he impressed with goals and assists for his native Denmark. Now back at Arsenal, I have finally begun to see the player that had Steve Bruce and the rest of the Championship drooling.
He is able in the air, skillfull on the floor, and effective in front of goal. Crucially, unlike Jeremie Aliadiere (and to an extent Theo Walcott), when presented with opportunities to play he rarely fails to make an impact. Great players have a habit of stamping their mark over games – for example, scoring a header within seconds of coming on in a North London Derby.
It’s that knack of writing his own scripts that has forced Bendtner ahead of Walcott, Eduardo and others in the strikers pecking order. Having fought his way to the front of the queue, the Dane surely won’t blow a forthcoming chance to cement a place.
Tomorrow, with Emmanuel Eboue and Walcott being rested, Bendtner could finally get the chance to start a Premier League game. It’s been a slow build of of consistently good cameos, and now the clamour for him to play is almost overwhelming. If he puts in a good performance today, we could be witnessing the start of something very special.
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Disclaimer: Of course, he could just a) not be picked, or b) play terribly. Hyperbole comes at a price.
