Arsene Wenger reassures Nicklas Bendtner over future
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reassured striker Nicklas Bendtner that he does have a future at the club.
The 22-year-old has made only a few substitute appearances for the team since recovering from a groin problem, which kept him out for the start of the Premier League season.
Bendtner has always insisted that he wants to play football at the very highest level and has suggested that he could leave Arsenal in January or at the end of the season if he doesn't become a regular.
However, Wenger insists that Bendtner's recent absences from the first team are due to a small niggle with the same groin problem that has already hampered the Dane's season.
"He was not in the squad [to play Everton] because he had a little groin problem and I left him at home," Wenger told
Sky Sports.
The Frenchman clearly admires and respects the striker and points out that the long-term contract the club gave him, suggests that he figures in the long-term goals that Arsenal
has.
"Yes [wants him to stay], for the length of his contract, that is three more years.
I want him to stay. I have known him since he was 16 year old and I have a strong rapport with him," he added.
The pair appear to have a very good relationship away from the pitch and this will be important to Bendtner. He will find it encouraging that the manager has come out so
quickly and addressed this matter. Had there been a very serious question over his future, Wenger could have brushed the issue under a mat.
"I like him as a player and a person, even if I do not agree with every statement.
Overall I want him to stay and be part of the group," ended Wenger.
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