Top 10 Young Players Singings by Arsene Wenger for Arsenal (Part 5)
Nicklas Bendtner - signed from KB in 2004
Nicklas Bendtner is a Danish professional footballer plays as a striker Arsenal. Bendtner’s preferred position is centre forward but he usually plays on been played on the right side of attack for the Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger’s 4-3-3 formation.
Bendtner started playing football for his hometown FC Copenhagen’s feeder club Kjøbenhavns Boldklub (KB). The talented striker has managed to score four goals in six Danish national youth team matches.
However, in the summer of 2004, Nicklas Bendtner was signed by English Giants Arsenal. The Danish striker formed a formidable strike partnership in the reserves with teammate Arturo Luppoli. On 25 October 2005, Nicklas Bendtner made his first team debut for Arsenal in a League Cup match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, as a substitute in the final minutes.
Moreover, the 22-year-old striker is one of Arsene Wenger’s favourite due to his ability to alternate between the striking positions and the right-side of the field. The hot shot Danish attacker has come in for criticism at times during his stay in North London particularly because of his occasional tom foolery on the field.
Last season Nicklas Bendter scored a hat-trick against Portuguese giants FC Porto in UEFA Champions League Quarter Final and ensured Arsenal semi-final berth. Bendtner has a decent scoring record, as he has managed to score forty-nine times in 172 matches. Bendtner has also weighed in with a considerable number of assists too.
The talented Danish striker was signed for an undisclosed fee as a 16-year-old. The 22-year-old striker is a key part of the Denmark National Football team and has the physique to thrive in the Premier League. He also scored the vital goal in FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 against Cameroon which proved to be the decisive and Denmark was able to qualify to the next round.
Abou Diaby - signed from Auxerre in 2005
Vassiriki Abou Diaby, more commonly known as Abou Diaby, is a French professional footballer of Ivorian descent. Abou Diaby's natural playing style is as a box-to-box central midfielder. The Frenchman is proficient in both attack and defence. Abou Diaby’s physical appearance and positional preference have brought to mind comparisons to Arsenal legend and compatriot, Patrick Vieira.
Abou Diaby began his career playing for hometown club Aubervilliers. Then he spent a year with semi-professional club Red Star Paris. At the age of thirteen, Abou Diaby signed a youth contract with the professional capital club Paris Saint-German. In 2002, the Frenchman joined Auxerre and was a vital part of the Auxerre team that won the national Under-16 championship that year.
Abou Diaby’s former coach Christian Henna once described him as a “very good technician, elegant, quick”. In 2004-05 season, Diaby was brought in as a professional player at Auxerre. He played thirteen matches in that season. His first match for Auxerre’s first came on 14th August 2004, when he played against Rennes.
In 2005 Abou Diaby was signed by Arsene Wenger for a very low price of only £2m from Auxerre. Before joining Arsenal, Diaby reportedly turned down a move to Arsenal London’s arch rivals Chelsea. Abou Diaby is a player who has extraordinary control on ball and sometimes even shows off his lustrous dribbling ability. On his arrival to North London Diaby was given the number 2 shirt, vacant since the retirement of Lee Dixon. Diaby came off the bench to score his first goal for Arsenal in their 5-0 win over Aston Villa on 1st April 2006.
However, over the course of last two seasons, Diaby has established himself as an Arsenal regular player after taking time to adjust from his Auxerre move in 2005. An adaptable midfielder, Diaby can easily cause trouble in the opposition’s penalty area. Diaby is also skilful at breaking up play, as well as dribbling elegantly.
More recently, Diaby has managed to become the part of France’s National Football squad. The talented midfielder was one of Les Bleus' impressive performers during their doomed 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign.
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