Veteran's View - how bad is Nicklas Bendtner? (Updated)
By Samuel Mowbray
Virtually 26 years to the day, Arsenal signed whom I consider to be one of the worst players I have ever seen grace the red and white shirt.
His name: Lee Chapman and the fact that he then went on to win a Divison One Champions' medal with Leeds shows you how much I know about football and footballers.
Stop reading now if you want - as I am sure many readers from my generation have their own differing views (about our worst ever player). According to records, he played 23 games for us and scored 4 goals. He cost the very princely sum (in those days) of £500,000.
I don't mention all of this as a rant against Terry Neill, the manager at the time who signed him - but the fact that I'm writing this after returning from the Twente FC match - and I think I have seen a player who runs him close.
Yes, stand up Nicklas Bendtner!
Checking records, we took on Spartak Moscow at Highbury on September 29, 1982 in the first round of the UEFA Cup. I was there. We had lost the first leg in Moscow 2-3. Creditable.
In those days, for reasons, I don't think I have ever know, the home teams played in their away strip.
Someone that year had decided our away strip was green and blue. Yes, green and blue. Far worse than any concoction of yellow and blue - and we know there have been some bad ones in my time - which at least have been associated with our away strips.
I won't go on.
I have always loved European football. If I read the stats right, it was our first at Highbury for four years.
We lost 2-5. Somehow playing in green and blue shirts made the defeat even worse.
I don't recall the scoring sequence. But I do recall the fact that Lee Chapman was dreadful. Dreadful. Even though he scored one of our goals.
At least, last night we won.
Bendtner scored too. I rest my case.
If this player ever scores 20 goals in a season for us, I will gladly write again on Arsenal Addict that I know little of football and footballers after watching for 45 years.
I truly hope he does - and proves me wrong.
Does Arsene (always) know?
Samuel Mowbray responds to comments:
Fellow Addicts. I never suggested NB was the worst ever player I have seen play for our team. I suggested, on the evidence of last night's game, he was running Lee Chapman, on his current form, close.
Evidence?
Put through by Cesc in a pass of sublime vision and precision, he failed in a relatively simple one on one. Watch his assist for Theo's goal, and it is clearly a fortuitous stumble/mis-kick. Unlike many I have never and I will never leave a game early or boo an Arsenal player. I just don't think he is a talented enough player in a small squad to win us the title
Of course he will have his moments. He is a professional sportsman. An international. He's young. We didn't pay much for him. These shouldn't be excuses - they highlight part of our dilemma.
I truly hope I am wrong but I doubt he will ever score 20 goals for us. If he does, I will post on AA out of joy - and humiliation. It will be a pleasure. But I don't see what Arsene sees him - any more than I ever understood what he saw in Aliadiere.
My opinion.
David Alexander
Reader Comments (147)
sorry is this article a joke? the guy is 20 years old, he doesn;t start too often, but he still scored again yesterday. he didn't play great, but at least he stuck at it and got his reward in the end. some people really are never happy unless they are slagging off arsenal or one of our players. it's a joke
Remarkable how little one can know about football after watching for 45 years. The man is entitled to his opinion (although I vehemently disagree) but to suggest that the guy is Arsenal's worst ever player without putting forward a single shred of evidence is arrogant in the extreme.
I agree to a point, he didn't perform as well at all. Particularly in his approach play. He's young and i for one am willing to take a punt on him.
I'm a firm believer that good strikers score even when they play badly and he did just that.
Hes been ten time better than ade this season. Give the lad a break. Many teams would like him as a back up striker. That header against spurs last year, where he came off the bench seconds earlier make him a legend in my eyes
He Cost £65,000 from FC Copahagen.........
Agreed - he is awful - not sure the worst ever - are you forgetting Eboue???
he bagged nine goals for us last season, and considering he got very few starts i think that was pretty good for a 19yr old. this year we quite rightly expect alot more from him, but i think he will give us a loot more if he is not suffercated to much by the presents of ade and the other strikers.
An utterly ridiculous article, which I suspect was only written to elicit an enraged response. I assume the author has also taken to booing Adebayor - another counterproductive activity to the extreeme..... I much prefered the silence of old. Those booing should be thrown out... unbelievable.
You have to be kidding?
The lad is 20 years old. Last night was by no means his best performance, but he got a goal and generally tried hard.
Everyone has an off-day. If after one indifferent performance you reckon he is a nobody then 45 years of watching football has been a waste of your time.
Now if you want to slag off Eboue i'll be right behind you!
Look at the stats from last season, he was our best striker for goals and assists per minute on the pitch, at the age of 20. He scored the winning goal against Tottenham with his first touch. he has a great international scoring record.
He got some people on his back last night for a couple of poor decisions yet still scored, showing strength of character.
In the words of the song 'you don't know what you're doing/writing'. He is a class player, albeit young and improving.
Please avoid provocative and rubbish posts.
He is too slow at the moment but is young and can only improve. It is really up to him as to how much he improves. He has a great manager and has played with some of the best players in the world.
Totally agree with jimy.
All you two faced so called gooners out there. What do you want, BLOOD! Get of the back's of Walcott, Bendtner, Denilson, Djourou and all the other YOUNGSTERS who are in reality starting their footballing careers. So damn critical and cynical. For once in your lives stop slagging of OUR team and get your full support behind OUR ARSENAL FC and all the players, or just sod of and go and support Chelsea. Sick to death of all these pathetic people who have nothing better to do but criticize. Would love to see you take the position of the players that you criticize and see how you would fair.
Wow. Unbelievable. Just in case you didn't know, he is 20 YRS OLD! Play regularly for his country and scores regularly for his country - 7 goals in 16 appearances. Not bad, don't you think for someone just out of his teens. And last yr, playing mostly as a sub, he managed 9 goals - in his 1st season! I think its guaranteed he'll become a 20 goal a season player, and I really hope its for us.
So maybe you should cut him some slack - he's on a different planet to Chapman, who I agree was crap. But you're right about one other thing - you know nothing about football.
What a joke article, i think you may need to check that it is football you have been watching for 45 years my friend. I think this article highlights how little you actually know about football. My inkling tells me that the author of this has never actaully played football himself but has watched not actually knowing what is going on. Please, veterans view???!!? Comparing Bendtner to Lee Chapman!!! laughable. Bendtner looks a wonderful footballer in the making, he has everything potential wise only maybe lacking a quick change of pace.
Would our worst player of all time have the likes of Chelsea and AC Milan sniffing for him on the summer???? I dont think so....
Fool
Even booing Eboue and Adebayor is ridiculous - think what 'supporter'actually means if you do this.
I hate anyone that does due to the negative impact on the team, this season and when good players leave due to the negativity eg Hleb.
agree with your view there..... jimy.
hes not going to be the super skilled silky touch player, but he's an asset cause he brings the physical presence and knows a thing or two about getting into the right positions and finishing. If he can work on his composure and link up play he'll do ok.
A record of 17 starts, 23 substitute appearances and nine goals in his first season is bad for one of our worst players.
He has a great touch and the boy is going to be one hell of a player. I bet you cheered his header against the spuds???
If he played on a regular basis he would scored more than 20 goals no problem.
He has certainly done better than Adebayor so far thi season"
Agree with Jimmy, Bendtner is a young promising footaballer and technically better than that twat Adebayor...Last season Bendtner scored 9 goals and that is a great record for a 19-year-old and for a big team like us AND when he didn't enjoy great support of team behind...and never forget the crucial goals he scored....Some people just never understand, especially the ones who claim that they have been watching football for 45 years
Well researched arguement backed up by undeniable stats....oh wait!
You Onion
You are an idiot mate - I agree he had an off night last night - nothing fell for the lad at all, but he puts the effort in and is a far better finisher than Ade on his day. Was last night the first football match you've watched in a couple of years. Moron
What a tripe load!
I think you will find Nik will be a great player, preferably for Arsenal. I know he blows a bit hot and cold at the moment, but in time he will show his class under pressure, probably by the end of this season.
I agree completly, Bendtner has never stood out as an example of a world class striker, he may only be 21, but he is championship quality at best, he performed well for a season at Birmingham and thats the best i've seen him play, almost every display in an Arsenal shirt has been disapointing, wenger talks about quality, but i can't see any to be honest, granted his link up play with vela in pre-season was good, but this guy will never be an Arsenal regular, Farm him out on loan or cash in now!!
Involved in 3 of our four goals last night, scoring one. For an off nite (and he wasnt at his best, a lot didnt go right for him but he kept at it) its not a bad return.
Hes not a starter but he will get goals and turn games. Surely thats what you want from the bench. Yeah lets sell him so we have 1 less effective option from the bench. Good thinking that....