Bendtner issues Arsenal quit warning

(GSM) – Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner has warned the club of his growing frustration as he sits on the bench.

The Danish striker has lost his place in the Gunners’ first-team to Marouane Chamakh and admits he may have to leave the club if the situation is not resolved.

Bendtner, who has only made two starts this season, said: “If the situation doesn’t improve – if I keep sitting on the bench at Arsenal – I must leave. It’s as simple as that.

“My first priority is – as it has always been – to play for Arsenal. I’ve had a lot of patience and won’t be warming the bench anymore. I want to play regularly and I hope it will be for Arsenal.

“I’m very disappointed that I haven’t played more. I feel I’ve done the right things in the rehab and that I’m in the form of my life. I feel that I’m better than before the injury where I after all was in the line up every time and close to fulfilling my potential.

“Now I am only missing small things in order to be at the top again and I only get that by playing games – so that’s what I must do now. That’s the situation. When I’m100 per cent fit I can’t accept sitting on the bench.

“I’ll soon be 23 and at this point in my career it’s important to play regularly game after game in order to continue my development. I’ve been patient for a long time but I’m not anymore. I’ve shown that I’m fit – both in training and the games I’ve played.”

Meanwhile Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger insists there is no chance of Bendtner leaving the Emirates.

Wenger said: “When you try to convince a player that he has to be patient, then you waste your time. That’s what you’ve got to do, but you ask a player if he is fit after two training sessions and he says: ‘yes.’ That’s it, that’s normal. I was the same.

“He has a good level of confidence and that is not bad, but you have to justify it on the football pitch. He looked to me until very recently, since yesterday he is getting sharper in training. He will play games.

“You cannot make any individual case. We are a big club and we have big strikers. You cannot start the season with one striker. Then you decide and, unfortunately, you can only play 11.”

Bendtner was linked with Internazionale last year.