By Richard Clarke
Tonight Arsène Wenger will hand
Nicklas Bendtner the one thing he craves - a first-team chance.
Despite his reputation as one of the brightest striking talents in
Europe, the Dane has not yet started a game for Arsenal.
However Wenger could give the 19-year-old no greater compliment in
pre-season than to insert him into his squad for the coming
campaign as one of the main four strikers. From what he told
Arsenal TV Online on Monday, the manager rates Bendtner in the
highest terms. However, at the same time, he knows the
Copenhagen-born player must be ready when opportunity knocks.
"Nicklas is strong, he's quick, he's an intelligent
boy, he's a good finisher, he's good in the air and
he's a good team player," said Wenger.
"He can create chances and give the final ball. You can play
one-twos with him and he can bring other people in.
"Tuesday is one of his chances and he will get more
opportunities in more big games but it's maybe his first real
opportunity this season.
"In this job, you work everyday and you are ready when you get
your chance. You don't wonder about the rest and you can never
predict your chance. Part of success in life is to grab your chance
when you get it and that's why you have to always be ready.
"For me he has everything in his locker that needs to be in there. But it doesn't mean because you have it in you that you have done it - it is all to do for him. But I would love to be 19 years-old and have his quality."
Copyright 2013 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source 25 Sep 2007
