Nicklas Bendtner: Wenger Believes Bendtner Could Still Star at Arsenal

Having been sent out on loan to Italian side Juventus for this season, Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner couldn't be blamed for thinking his position at the North London club may be more than marginalised.

However Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was quick to squash such speculation Friday, revealing that he still considers the Danish striker key to his team's future (via The Guardian).

Speaking to reporters at the UEFA elite club coaches forum in Switzerland, Wenger addressed Bendtner's situation in no uncertain terms.

"It is not for nothing that I loaned him to Juventus. He is a talented player. There he will grow and then return to my team," he said.

"Don't forget, he is a boy of 24 years. The right age to prove who he is. The talent is not missing, otherwise I would not have bought him from Copenhagen when he was just 16 years old."

Bendtner has come in for criticism from some in the past, most notably for his temperament off the pitch.

However, earlier this year, his international teammate Daniel Agger claimed that the striker had turned a corner, at least in his attitude for Denmark (via Tribal Football).

"Bendtner lived in a bubble when he came into this team," Agger told reporters in June. "He was always 'here I am' and 'I can do it', but he has really evolved in a positive direction."

"Just look at the match on Saturday and see how much he ran for the team. Often he got nothing out of it himself, but he helped the team by putting pressure on so we could get the ball."

Last season, Bendtner impressed whilst on loan at fellow Premier League side Sunderland, scoring eight goals for the Tyne and Wear club.

If he can continue his improving form at Juventus, a future in the Arsenal set-up is by no means impossible.