Gooner Talk’s Player of the Month: Nicklas Bendtner (September 08)
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.
Watch people come in hating on him. But yeah he deserves it. Or Vela.
Nice. Good to see there are some fans who can see beyond the hype (Cesc can’t be pom every month).
I’m always a Niki fan, last season he set up 2 in our 2 from behind comeback – and that was from the bench.
Must say tho’ it’s forever hard to look past Clichy – he’s been our best player since Ash left, consistent, disciplined, tireless, and motivating.
erm yep – that was 2 behind vs Wigan, which we drew in they dying moments after Niki came on in the 78th min
that’s no sence with walcott shining like WHOOOOOO!! and u r talking about Nicklas as Player of the month?
Couldn’t agree more…..well i could but you get my point. I’ve been crying out for Bendtner to start more of our games. Apart from winning the pen last night he also set up Ade who missed a sitter.
Obviously its great that we scored 4 last night but its a shame that Nik wont get a start against Sunderland because of the attacking performances.
I don’t think he’s been the best player of the month. He hasn’t played enough not to mention playing brilliantly. I think Walcott, Fabregas or even Adebayor have played better.
I have been very impressed by Bendtner, I think he played extremely well over the month and hope to see more of the same.
However I can’t see how he could possibly be player of the month over Walcott, who has made a greater contribution to the team
It has to be Nick or Eboue but the later has gone a little missing in the last two games. So I think he is an acceptable winner.
I’m really glad that he has won because when in the stands at the back end of last season, he was still getting a lot of stick and I think people forget that he is only 20 years of age. It had to be out of him and Theo and I think Theo has got a lot of positive press and Nik deserves more so well done Gooner Talk!
i have to agree… bendtner is really improving
but RvP also was quite good this month.
Cesc shouldnt even be mentioned as player of the month. He has been off form due to lack of pre season and Ade has been just woeful. He only scored when the team is doing well, ie blackburn and Porto. He never really gets the match winner.
Bendtner was great, I know, but I think we forgot Almunia.
He had great saves, and he was not the guilty at the goals.
It would be nice if we can make a special statistic for the goalkeepers, because probably they won’t score a goal or they won’t give an assist.