Nicklas Bendtner promised to be one of ‘the best strikers in the world’ by now. His career hasn’t quite panned out like that.
The legend of Nicklas Bendtner is that of a man whose ego is not matched by his talent, work ethic or drive. The Danish striker has been spoofed on social media for years, a running joke due to his off-the-field antics that have contrasted with a flailing playing career.
The 28-year-old once made the brash claim that he would be the top scorer in the Premier League, top scorer at the World Cup and within five years, among the best strikers in the world. Bendtner finds himself at Nottingham Forest looking to kick start his career, having failed to settle at Wolfsburg, Juventus or Sunderland following Arsenal’s decision to part company.
Tonight he will go head-to-head with the club who gave him his opportunity in English football, with Arsene Wenger having discovered him in 2004. His career may not have panned out the way he might have hoped, or believed it would, but Bendtner will be praying that when he looks back on his career, it will represent more than a scrapbook of manic moments.
Take a look at some of the craziest moments from Bendtner’s career thus far.
2009 – Nightclub antics
Just hours after Arsenal had been dumped out of a Champions League semi-final by Manchester United, Nicklas Bendtner was spotted stumbling out of a London nightclub with his trousers halfway down his legs. The Danish striker issued an apology for the ‘error of judgement’ to party after such a defeat.
2012 – Getting shorty
There have not been many stranger punishments doled out in European Championship finals than the one Bendtner occurred in 2012. Following his decision to lower his shorts and reveal the logo of betting company Paddypower after scoring the second of his two goals in a 3-2 defeat to Portugal, UEFA subsequently fined him £80,000 and issued him a one-match ban.
2008 – Defensive clearances
Bendtner had just over 20 minutes to make an impact against Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and all he conspired to do was prevent Cesc Fabregas from bagging the winner.
The Spaniard’s shot was en route to an empty net when the Danish striker, perched on the goal-line, comically flicked it away from harm. Arsenal would go on to lose the second leg 4-2 – Bendtner stayed rooted to the bench this time.
2008 – Battle at White Hart Lane
With tempers often flaring in football, is it any surprise that the egos of Emmanuel Adebayor and Bendtner came to a head during a 5-1 mauling at Spurs? With the Gunners trailing 4-1 at White Hart Lane in the Carling Cup tie, the frustrated pair began pushing each other.
With Bendtner receiving a bloodied nose for his troubles, both players were instructed to calm down before further remonstrations were no doubt had in the dressing room. The Togolese striker later revealed that the catalyst behind the scuffle was his team-mate’s decision to show him the finger.
2011 – Camp Nou misery
One of Bendtner’s finest moments in an Arsenal shirt came at the Camp Nou, when he poked the visitors into an early lead in 2010. A year later however, and it proved to be the setting of one of his worst, and possibly the final nail in his Gunners’ career.
With Barcelona winning 4-3 on aggregate against the tired ten men of Arsenal, Bendtner knew he must be clinical with the rare chances he would be presented with.
He was given one – through on goal, knowing that if he scored, it would see the Gunners into the next round on away goals. In typical fashion, he miscontrolled the ball, stumbled and the opportunity was spurned.
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