The Two Sides of the Nicklas Bendtner Coin

Furthermore, his so called arrogance seems to have stemmed from the mass media in Britain.

The notion that he should start every game—no matter who is fit—was contrived by the media, who twisted his words from an interview he had given to the Danish media.

Is it too much to ask of Arsenal fans to make their own mind up on a player rather than believe the tabloid trash?

Finally, is it not a good thing that Bendtner has belief in his own ability? Who wants a player on the pitch that has inhibitions about his own skill level? What good is that to any team?

Football operates on confidence.

Heads: This is Bendtner's fourth year at Arsenal, and he is quite clearly not good enough for a club of this stature.

He may be a willing lad, but he doesn't have the finishing touch, and that is not something you can learn over time.

Who cares that he is only 21? If you are good enough, you are old enough. Time to get Bendtner off the Arsenal payroll.

Tails: Bendtner has improved immensely during his time at Arsenal and came back more of a team player following his spell at Birmingham.

And yes, at 21, he still has plenty time to improve. Forgive me if I am wrong, but were Zidane, Henry, Bergkamp, and Villa classed as world beaters at 21? Not everyone develops at the same pace as Cesc Fabregas or Lionel Messi.

Besides, it is not as if Bendtner is keeping other players from the first team. It is Arsene Wenger that picks him in front of Carlos Vela.

Injuries have taken their toll at Arsenal this season, and it is for this reason that Bendtner—Arsenal's fourth choice striker behind Van Persie, Adebayor, and Eduardo—has got so many games.

Maybe the young Dane isn't ready for a starting berth yet, but that is hardly enough reason to give him the boot.

He is not some £30 million striker who arrived in the summer and barely covers a blade of grass in a game; he is a £200,000 buy in the summer of 2004, who is trying to prove his worth at a big club. Surely he deserves the chance?

Let him learn from the Eduardo's, Arshavin's, and Van Persie's. Arsenal may just have a diamond in the rough on their hands.

So, there it is—the two sides of the Nicklas Bendtner coin. I have my own views on Bendtner, and I'm sure you do too, so which side does the coin land for you, or does it just stand in the middle?

Nicklas Bendtner—Heads or Tails?

Other articles in the series:

The Two Sides Of The Cristiano Ronaldo Coin

The Two Sides Of The Arsene Wenger Coin

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