Nicklas Bendtner: Arsenal "looking forward" to tricky fixture run

Nicklas Bendtner

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner spoke of his joy at scoring his first goal of the season in last night’s 2-0 win over Hull City. A figure for derision in many quarters, Bendtner was a surprise inclusion in the Gunners line up and opened the scoring in the second minute. He says that watching from the sidelines has been tough, but revelled in his goal, before looking ahead to a crunch month that could go a long way to deciding the Premier League title race.

“It was a fantastic feeling”, he told Arsenal’s official website. “I think my celebration for the goal was a show of that. It was my first Premier League game this season, so I am pleased to have scored and that we won.”

Bendtner spoke of the depth of the league leader’s squad, saying: “It has been difficult for the players who have not been in the team because we have had such good form and the players who have played have been magnificent.”

“With the way people play now, it looks like whoever comes in takes it in his stride and goes with it, that showed again because there were a couple of changes and everybody played well.”

Arsenal now face a crucial few weeks, taking on the division’s surprise package – Everton – on Sunday, before fixtures against Napoli and Manchester City. Bendtner said:

“We are very much looking forward to it because we know this is a very hard period coming up and we need everybody to be focused and sharp, but we will take just one game at a time and try to put the points on the table.”

In his first start for Arsenal this season, Bendtner won three of the five headed duels that he contested against Hull City, having failed to win any during his previous league appearances.