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Bendtner weighing up Arsenal future

Nicklas Bendtner has scored two goals in the Premier League this season © PA Photos

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Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has revealed he is considering quitting the Gunners in a bid to find first-team football elsewhere.

Bendtner, 23, is only just returning to full fitness and sharpness after injury problems this season. But the Danish international, who will face England in Copenhagen on Wednesday, feels he needs regular football to achieve his lofty goals.

Bendtner said: "I have a lot of feelings for Arsenal and it means something great to me. I would be sad to leave it, but you have to think about yourself and, with the career goals I have, I cannot be sitting on the bench.

"That's the way it is. I will do my best for Arsenal throughout the season. Hopefully, I will be there next season as well, but we have to wait and see. But, if my situation at Arsenal doesn't change, I will have to look at it because I want to play football.

"There is no doubt about that. If I cannot play at Arsenal, then I do not want to sit on the bench - but every player thinks like that. I am at a stage of my career now where I think I should play every game and I should develop and score goals.''

Bendtner will face his Arsenal team-mate Jack Wilshere in Copenhagen with the 19-year-old making his full debut. But he hopes the lesson of another Gunners player in Theo Walcott, who was taken to the 2006 World Cup as a 17-year-old, will be learnt by England in handling Wilshere.

He said: "Jack is developing all the time. He is still young and he will keep developing and getting better for five or six years still. Young players are always put under a lot of pressure very early in England. You always throw players around really quickly. Jack has got potential, he is a grounded lad and he can be a great, great player for England.

"I have my own theories on how Theo Walcott was treated by England, but I don't want to get too much into that because it will probably just get me in trouble.

"But Theo can be a lesson for the way you treat Jack. It's important to take it easy and realise he is a kid. He's still young even though he seems very mature and seems like he has played a long time.''

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