They say a week is a long time in politics but at times three days can be a long time in football. Just ask Nicklas Bendtner.
On Saturday in the Premier League the Dane missed a host of gilt-edged chances against a quite simply abject Burnley side. Fortunately for Bendtner Arsenal still won, a result which kept their title hopes alive. Had Burnley managed to punish Bendtner’s profligacy the 22-year-old might not have got out of the Emirates Stadium in one piece.
Fast forward to the Champions League clash with Porto last night. Arsenal went into the game trailing 2-1 from the first leg and without the presence of their talisman, the mercurial Cesc Fabregas.
Arsene Wenger's side needed someone to step up to plate. Enter Bendtner. The Dane gave Arsenal the lead on the night with a goal that spoke volumes about his ravenous desire to atone for his misses against Burnley. He followed it up by tapping home a simple second before grabbing his hat-trick and Arsenal’s fifth in injury time. Talk about going from the ridiculous to the sublime.
On Saturday Arsenal fans would have been forgiven for comparing Bendtner to Francis Jeffers, the big-money young ‘fox in the box’ Wenger brought back in 2001. As Arsenal fans will remember Jeffers never produced in an Arsenal shirt – proof that, on occasions, even Wenger is fallible in the transfer market.
Last night, in contrast, Bendtner might just have passed for a poor man’s Thierry Henry.
All of which leads to the question: how good is Bendtner? The Dane undeniably misses far too many scoreable chances to be considered a world-class striker and his first touch often lets him down. He also doesn’t help his popularity amongst fans by coming across in interviews at times as someone who has a spectacularly inflated opinion of his ability.
Against that though his exceptional work-rate on the pitch warrants respect and he has, on occasions, popped up with big performances and goals – his towering header against Stoke a recent example - when they were needed most.
In addition, his size, power and presence also gives Arsenal a route one option when their passing game proves unable to unlock defences.
And even in that clash against Burnley, a game where he had a proverbial nightmare, he kept getting into positions to score and never hid or stopped trying.
That spoke volumes about his character and desire and warrants considerable respect.
He may not be a top quality striker yet and he never be but Bendtner’s attitude and power could yet prove a huge asset to Arsenal in the months and years ahead. He will never be a Thierry Henry but he is far from a Francis Jeffers.
