Nicklas Bendtner has shown critics Arsenal have depth, claims Per Mertesacker

Arsenal’s German defender Per Mertesacker praised team-mate Nicklas Bendtner’s contribution to the Gunners’ season, saying that his vital goal against Cardiff showed the strength in depth at the club.

Talking to the club’s official website the giant defender praised Bendtner, who has now scored winning goals in both of his two league starts this season.

“It was a vital goal from Nicklas. He did it against Hull as well when he stepped in for Olivier Giroud, and this time you saw how vital it is to have the depth in the squad,” said Mertesacker.

“It’s important to have a second proper striker who comes in and just does what he usually does.”

Arsenal had a plethora of chances to open the deadlock before Bendtner’s 88thminute effort but Mertesacker insists that he was not worried, arguing that the club’s defensive record gives them the foundations upon which to build success in games.

“Normally when you have a lot of chances at the end you struggle a bit and maybe you concede a goal, but at the moment we are quite solid at the back and don’t concede a lot.”

Mertesacker missed two glaring headed openings himself, and the German admitted that he should have done better with his chances.

“When there is a tight game you always get opportunities from set pieces,” he said. “It was a tight game, it was 0-0 and you always try to get an opportunity as a defender when there is a set piece.

“I tried hard today and there were two good opportunities when I should have scored. But everything went well luckily.”