26. Nicklas Bendtner

The 2007/08 season saw Nicklas finally begin his first-team career at Arsenal.

The tall Danish striker had been rising through the ranks since moving from Copenhagen in 2004. He spent a year on loan at Birmingham but returned last season to push his claims for a starting berth.

A record of 17 starts, 23 substitute appearances and nine goals represents a fine start.

Nicklas is big but has a deft touch on the floor. He has the ability to link midfield and attack with intelligence then finish of the move with precision.

Perhaps his most important goals last season came in the air. He powered home the winner against Tottenham with his first touch in a North London derby. Nicklas also nodded in crucial goals against Newcastle and Aston Villa.

He is also becoming a major part of the Danish set-up. At the start of this season Nicklas already had eight caps.

 

MY YEAR

October

Nicklas continued his solid start to the season in October with outings against Sunderland and West Ham. The Danish striker missed the clash with Everton through injury and was on the bench for the Champions League tie with Fenerbahce and the month’s final fixture against Tottenham. Nicklas spoke to Arsenal TV Online during October and said: “I have matured a lot since last season and i want to become a regular here and help the team to win things. When you keep training hard you do improve and I need to improve on a lot of things.”

September

Nicklas scored three goals in his five September appearances and agreed that he now feels more ‘part of the furniture’ this season. "It's true, the first season is an establishing season where you have to get used to everything," he told Arsenal.com on the 26th. "Whereas in this season I want to push on, to play more regularly and show people what I really can do, because so far what people have seen is far from everything.” The Dane struck in the 27th minute against Bolton before scoring the first two goals in Arsenal’s 6-0 Carling Cup victory against Sheffield United.

August

Last season was Nicklas's first in the Arsenal first-team but the 20-year-old started his second campaign with the look of a seasoned professional. The Dane looked equally adept as a target man as he did with the ball at his feet and capped a number of head-turning performances in August with a goal against Twente.

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