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Arsenal Comment: Why Unfancied Nicklas Bendtner Can Fire Unfancied Arsenal To The Title
Under-rated and unpopular, Danish striker could now be key...
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Mar 13, 2010 8:44:00 PM
By Matthew Weiner | Arsenal Correspondent
Even Arsenal fans aren't sure about him. But as Nicklas Bendtner begins to prove that he is a striker worthy of the club, the Gunners are beginning to prove they're worthy of the title.
His scrappy late goal kept Arsenal in the title race when he dispatched the winner against Hull.
The Gunners needed to win at the KC Stadium to keep the pressure on Chelsea and Manchester United and it was thanks to the Danish striker's persistence that Arsenal left with the three points not just the one.
Arsenal's legs looked weary but Bendtner didn't lose heart and when his opportunity came following Boaz Myhill's parry of Denilson's powerful shot, the confident forward seized it.
It wasn't the most spectacular of goals - Bendtner's rarely are - but perhaps this was the most important of his career.
Bendtner still needs to impress a lot of Arsenal fans. Even his hat-trick against Porto midweek was dismissed as 'easy' by some. But the match-winner against Phil Brown's team must win him a few more admirers even though his perceived arrogance does make him hard to like.
But the truth is, the Gunners are better with Bendtner. Arsenal have won a whopping 76 percent of the last 50 games in which he has played over 60 minutes, according to Bettorlogic.com. That's compared to a dismal 52 percent without him.
That certainly hasn't been due to his strike rate. The Danish international has been hit and miss in the past. Who can forget that Burnley horror show?
No, previously that impact was all about his strength and burly presence but now, he's beginning to add goals. Important goals.
Quality strikers pop up in the 90th minute to score match winners. Not pub players - as he called himself last season when he was having a dismal time in front of goal.
The Gunners have now won five Premier League games in a row and are three points off the top.
Their easier run-in than their title rivals gives them a very real chance of winning the trophy, particularly if Bendtner can keep fit.
With Robin Van Persie out injured until the end of the season and Eduardo still out of sorts, the Gunners were desperate for a striker to step up and Bendtner has done that in the last week.
Even when he was missing chances against Burnley, his physical presence up front was crucial for the whole of the team - he allowed Arsenal's mini midfielders to play. But now Bendtner has begun to add goals to his game and he has become a target man who can hit the target.
If Bendtner can keep scoring then Arsenal have a very real shot at the title.
His scrappy late goal kept Arsenal in the title race when he dispatched the winner against Hull.
The Gunners needed to win at the KC Stadium to keep the pressure on Chelsea and Manchester United and it was thanks to the Danish striker's persistence that Arsenal left with the three points not just the one.
Arsenal's legs looked weary but Bendtner didn't lose heart and when his opportunity came following Boaz Myhill's parry of Denilson's powerful shot, the confident forward seized it.
It wasn't the most spectacular of goals - Bendtner's rarely are - but perhaps this was the most important of his career.
Bendtner still needs to impress a lot of Arsenal fans. Even his hat-trick against Porto midweek was dismissed as 'easy' by some. But the match-winner against Phil Brown's team must win him a few more admirers even though his perceived arrogance does make him hard to like.
But the truth is, the Gunners are better with Bendtner. Arsenal have won a whopping 76 percent of the last 50 games in which he has played over 60 minutes, according to Bettorlogic.com. That's compared to a dismal 52 percent without him.
That certainly hasn't been due to his strike rate. The Danish international has been hit and miss in the past. Who can forget that Burnley horror show?
No, previously that impact was all about his strength and burly presence but now, he's beginning to add goals. Important goals.
Quality strikers pop up in the 90th minute to score match winners. Not pub players - as he called himself last season when he was having a dismal time in front of goal.
The Gunners have now won five Premier League games in a row and are three points off the top.
Their easier run-in than their title rivals gives them a very real chance of winning the trophy, particularly if Bendtner can keep fit.
With Robin Van Persie out injured until the end of the season and Eduardo still out of sorts, the Gunners were desperate for a striker to step up and Bendtner has done that in the last week.
Even when he was missing chances against Burnley, his physical presence up front was crucial for the whole of the team - he allowed Arsenal's mini midfielders to play. But now Bendtner has begun to add goals to his game and he has become a target man who can hit the target.
If Bendtner can keep scoring then Arsenal have a very real shot at the title.
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2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
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