Nicklas Bendtner. Have you heard the name before? Yes, you have. He is recently been in the news for non-footballing reasons. The Denmark striker has been suspended by his country’s football federation for six months after he was arrested for drunk driving.
His career has gone from one extreme to another within a few years and he has only himself to blame. The 25-year-old is currently on-loan to Serie A giants Juventus but after failing to impress the hierarchies of the Old Lady, he would be returning back to Arsenal after his loan deal concludes.
After spending one year at Arsenal’s youth academy he made his senior debut for the Gunners in 2005 and till date has scored 22 league goals in 99 appearances. Well, not all players are born gifted with talent but still through professional training, hard work and determination one makes a bright impression. None of these are applicable for Bendtner, whose career has always been littered with controversy.
Despite impressing at the Euro 2012 he was seen as surplus to requirements at the Emirates and was sent on loan to Juventus this season. This was his second back to back loan move (previous season was loaned to Sunderland) and was probably his last chance to impress everyone and prove his mettle.
However, he spurned that opportunity and after this latest drunk-driving incident the club has unofficially decided to send him back at Arsenal. Additionally, he is so unpopular in Italy, that not a single jersey with his name at the back has been sold.
There are many players who get the tag of “bad boy” image due to their profligate and extravagant life-styles, but they could turn the fans on with their sublime calibre on-field. Unfortunately, Bendtner doesn’t have that grace or calibre to make the fans forget about his misdemeanors.
There lies the big question: does Bendtner have any future at Arsenal? The North London club will be looking to get reinforcements in the summer and he is certainly does not look like a part of Wenger’s plans.
According to reports back in Denmark, manager Arsene Wenger has lost patience with him now and with just one year left in his contract, the time is perfect for Arsenal to either sell him or terminate the contract for good.
He is responsible for his own downfall. He was talented enough; otherwise he wouldn’t represented Arsenal at first place and had featured for his country at highest levels. But he wasted his opportunities because of his improper way of leading his lifestyle. The future now looks bleak for him.
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