Wenger: Ex-Gunner Bendtner still top class

Nicklas Bendtner once claimed his intention was to become the best player on the planet before his career unravelled, but former boss Arsene Wenger claims the Dane is still top quality despite signing for Championship side Nottingham Forest.

Bendtner spent nine years at Arsenal – often as a back-up to the likes of Robin Van Persie – making more than 100 appearances for the Gunners and scoring 24 goals.

After leaving for a loan spell at Sunderland in 2011, Bendtner’s career has been in free fall as spells at Juventus and Wolfsburg never worked out for a striker that has made 72 international appearances for Denmark and scored 29 goals.

The 28-year-old has been offered a chance to drink in the last chance saloon by Forest this season in England’s second tier.

The Dane impressed for Birmingham City in the Championship in 2007, scoring 11 goals in 42 appearances for manager Steve Bruce and Wenger is convinced his former striker has all of the attributes to make a success of his move to the Midlands.

“It was a surprise to me that Nicklas signed for Nottingham Forest, but at some stage he needs to restart his career,” the manager said.

Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“You have to adapt and we are in a job where we have to show we are able to put our effort in everywhere and compete.

“Sometimes when you are a player of his quality, you just need an opportunity. We know he is a top-quality player, but he needs to play.

“He was very young [when I first saw him], 16 or 17 years old and I thought he was very interesting because he has a good technique, good stature, good pace, good in the air, good link play – he had it all in the locker.

“He had good periods in his career, and then periods when it went less well for him.”