Coming on for your first Champions League appearance, having been playing in the Championship only last season, and scoring the final goal in a rampant seven goal rout that would see the world take notice of your team – you’d think that’d be the dream of any youngster, wouldn’t you?
Well, it didn’t seem to be enough to raise a smile on the face of our young Danish international, Nicklas Bendtner. While the team celebrated and enjoyed the end of a spectacular performance, Bendtner jogged away from goal, with not so much of the hint of happiness.
Why?
We all know Bendtner rates his own talent very highly. Nothing wrong with that, and although he has made a few comments to the media, there’s nothing enormously controversial in there, especially when you compare it to, say, Jens Lehmann.
As a result of this confidence, he feels ready to play regularly for Arsenal. I’m sure he understands that he isn’t first choice, but his eyes probably lit up when Van Persie picked up his injury. With Eduardo struggling to adapt to the pace of the Premiership, he probably thought this was his chance.
And it may yet be. But after Eduardo failed to make an impact against Bolton, what Bendtner probably didn’t expect was to be upstaged last night by a man even younger than he is, who has only made cameo appearances on the wing this season.
But upstaged he was. He did make his point with the final goal, but his celebration was so muted that he looks decidedly grumpy alongside jubilant teammates.
Or maybe he just isn’t the smiley type.
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