Gooner Talk

Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner has won Gooner Talk’s Player of the Month award for September after his fantastic contribution in the Arsenal side.

Bendtner – who struck up a magnificent strike partnership with Mexican Carlos Vela – joined Arsenal from FC Copenhagen during the summer of 2005.

In August 2006, he moved to Birmingham City on a season-long loan, but returned to the Gunners in time for the 2007/08 campaign after impressing at St Andrews.

He scored his first league goal against arch-rivals Tottenham in December 07, and continued his impressive development for the rest of the season.

How Nicklas won the award

Nicklas started the month rested after sustaining a knock whilst on International duty for Denmark. He quickly bounced back from that and made an impact after coming on for Robin van Persie against Dynamo Kiev.

Little did he know, Bendtner’s biggest impact was to happen in the next two games. Against Bolton Wanderers, the 21-year-old capitalised on some slack defending to tap home past Jussi Jaaskelainen. Earlier on in that game, he set up Emmanuel Adebayor who subsequently smashed his shot straight onto the post.

Next up, was Sheffield United at home in the Carling Cup. Out came the young Guns and Bendtner was welcome back into the side along with strike partner Carlos Vela. The latter grabbed a hatrick while Bendtner scored a brace, the first with a placed finish outside the box, while the second was scored after a neat backheel from Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal’s defeat to Hull City was the worst result of the season so far, and Nicklas managed to catch the eye with some decent passing and play, unfortunately the score didn’t change and the players went in disappointed after a poor days work.

Against Porto, Nicklas came on and immediately made an impact by winning a penalty. Freddy Guarin hacked down the Dane and up stepped Emmanuel Adebayor who finished with aplomb.

A fantastic month for Bendtner, and there’s surely more to come from the young Danish starlet.

Nacer Barazite hopes his loan spell at Derby will help him to follow Nicklas Bendtner into Arsenal’s first team.

Dutch youngster Barazite has impressed since moving to Pride Park last month, dropping down to the Championship in a bid to gain some valuable experience.

Bendtner enjoyed a similar education at Birmingham during the 2006/07 season before breaking into Arsene Wenger’s plans at the Emirates Stadium.

Barazite – who shares the same initials as the Denmark forward – is keen to emulate Bendtner and was not concerned about joining a club which had been relegated from the Premier League.

“He (Bendtner) was like me, almost at the first team. Arsenal sent him to the Championship with Birmingham and he went back there after doing really well and now he is in the first team,” Barazite, 18, told the Evening Telegraph.

“I was not worried that Derby had a difficult time last season. The Premier League is a very difficult level and Derby is a good club. I talked with Arsene Wenger and he said I was doing really well at the club and the final step was learn some other sides of the game and the best thing to do that was to go to the Championship.”

You can keep up to date with all the latest news and analysis on Arsenal’s reserve & youth sides over at Young Guns. Not forgetting Nicklas Bendtner News – the number one blog on all things Bendtner.

Bolton Fabrice Muamba’s recent performances haven’t lived up to the hype surrounding the Reebok hardman.

Wanderers boss Gary Megson believes he has something to prove tomorrow evening, in a game which will see Muamba face his former team.

Gary Megson says the England under-21 international’s form has dipped since starring on the opening day of the season against Stoke, mirroring Wanderers’ own slump in fortunes.

“He started the season very well against Stoke, I thought he had a fantastic game,” Megson said. “But his standard since then hasn’t quite reached that height.”

Muamba joined then-Premier League side Birmingham in January 2007 from Arsenal for an initial £2 million pounds, that fee eventually rose to £4 million following criteria on appearances being met.