• Premier League

Bendtner: Life on bench has been difficult

Nicklas Bendtner scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal since December 2010 © Getty Images

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Nicklas Bendtner admits it has been difficult having to watch Arsenal's excellent start to the season mostly from the sidelines, but insists he's ready to take his next chance.

A much-changed Arsenal line-up, including Bendtner up front for Olivier Giroud, strolled to a 2-0 win against Hull on Wednesday night.

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It was the much-maligned striker's first league start of the season and he responded with a well-taken goal after just two minutes, his first Premier League goal for Arsenal since December 2010.

"It's been difficult for the players who have not been in the team because we have had such great form and the players who have played have been magnificent," Bendtner told Arsenal Player.

"The way we play now, it looks like everyone who comes in takes it in their stride and goes for it. There was a couple of changes for this game and everyone did well."

Wenger suggested after the game that Bendtner could have a big role to play in Arsenal's push for a trophy in 2014, with the notoriously confident hit-man echoing those sentiments ahead of upcoming games against Everton, Napoli, Manchester City and Chelsea.

"It was my first Premier League game of the season, so I was very pleased that we won and very pleased that I scored on my first game," he added. "It was a fantastic feeling [to score]. I think my celebration and my way of cheering for the goal was a show of that.

"We know this is a very hard period [of fixtures] coming up, but we are very much looking forward to it. We need everyone to focused and sharp. Let's try and get the points on the table."

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