• Premier League

Bendtner 'disappointed' with Arsenal

Nicklas Bendtner failed to seal a move away from Arsenal this summer © Getty Images

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Nicklas Bendtner has revealed he was "disappointed" not to have been allowed to leave Arsenal in the summer, insisting he was ready to move on.

In an interview with Danish newspaper Berlingske, Bendtner reflected on his return to the Emirates Stadium after last season's loan at Juventus.

The 25-year-old had been linked with a permanent move away from Arsenal, but Arsene Wenger opted to keep Bendtner on his books given the lack of attacking options at his disposal.

Bendtner expressed his anger at the treatment he has received from Arsenal in recent years and their insistence on keeping him there this season.

"Everything was in place for me [to leave], there were three clubs that were just waiting for me to say 'yes please' to them," he told Berlingske. "I was very disappointed when he [Wenger] phoned because I was ready to move on. I didn't actually think that they wished to keep me.

"As I have been at the club since I was 16 I found it ridiculous that they placed me in the reserves and let me train on my own. [But] suddenly everything was like old times again. I was training with the first team, I was hanging out with the first team and I had a dietician again. From being completely out to being completely in again."

Bendtner, who made the comments almost two weeks ago but had the story published on Saturday night, is likely to be named on the bench for Arsenal's Premier League trip to Manchester United on Sunday, but could harm his chances of regular football by claiming he is at a disadvantage to his teammates.

"I have to fight twice as hard during every game and also score to have a chance to start next time, which in itself is hard when I haven't hardly played in a year due to injury and have not had a pre-season together with the others on the team," he added.

When asked about the boos he received during last month's Capital One Cup defeat to Chelsea, Bendtner said: "That's just what it is like to be a footballer. But I will remain strong because if I start to listen or believe in them I could quickly find myself in a black hole."

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