Nicklas Bendtner glad to have scored after returning from injury
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has said he is relieved to have scored again after returning from a groin injury that kept him out for several months.
The Dane suffered the injury while on international duty at this year's World Cup, and he made his return to Arsene Wenger's first team in their league tie against Birmingham City on 16 October.
The 22-year-old nearly connected with Tomas Rosicky's cross to claim his first goal of the season, but had to wait until the game against Manchester City on Sunday, 24 October, to get on the scoresheet for Arsenal.
After coming on a second-half substitute for Marouane Chamakh, Bendtner ran onto Samir Nasri's perfectly timed ball and placed the ball in the far corner of Joe Hart's net.
"It was fantastic to score again," the lanky striker told Danish TV channel Viasat after the game. "I have waited for that for a long time. I felt we got off to a good start as they had a man sent off and we scored shortly after."
With Robin van Persie still sidelined, Bendtner's return will give Arsene Wenger another option in attack. So far this season, new signing Chamakh has had to bear the brunt of the injury crisis, and has done so with style, scoring three league goals so far.
Bendtner: We deserved to win
Bendtner, who has 35 international appearances to his name, said Arsenal deserved to win against City, who were down to ten men with only five minutes played.
"All in all, it was a fair result and it was a truly important win for us. It allows us to climb in the standings and it's always important to beat the other top sides."
Arsenal are now second in the league with 17 points. The team travel to face Newcastle United in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, 27 October before hosting West Ham United in the league three days later.
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