[goldenHuddlestone]

Arsenal starlet Nicklas Bendtner is hoping to secure his place within Arsenal’s starting eleven in the North-London club’s final Champions League group game against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday.

Bendter, who spent last season on-loan at Birmingham City and the season before that netted twenty-two goals in twenty-seven reserve team outings for the Gunners, believes he has the ability and opportunity to impress manager Arsene Wenger and the side’s fans after making the break-through in recent weeks.

Following impressive Carling Cup performances against Newcastle United and Sheffield United, Bendtner was called upon by his manager for the game against Slavia Prague, scoring on his European debut as the team annihilated the Czech outfit 7-0.

The nineteen year-old followed up those performances with impressive displays from the bench in the league and has also impressed fans of the Denmark national side after scoring on his international debut for Denmark in a friendly against Poland, adding another against Germany which sealed victory for the team in March.

Bendtner cited the role Birmingham City played in his development, giving him regular first-team outings and allowing him to adjust to the physical nature of English football following his move from FC København in 2004.

“The season I spent at Birmingham was fantastic," he enthused.

"I just wanted to help Birmingham win games and get promoted, as well as trying to improve as a player. I think I achieved that."

The Gunners have already guaranteed qualification from Group H and Bendtner is looking to feature from the start in the absence of Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie who is only just returning from a knee injury and is likely to take his place among the substitutes.

“I certainly hope I will start," Bendtner said. "Every time I get a chance, I want to show people what I can do.

"It's not easy because we have such a great strike force at Arsenal, and we've been playing really good football so the team has been settled. But when a chance comes along, it's important for me to take it."

Should Bendtner line-up for the Gunners it will be his third-consecutive Champions League start and he is hoping that the side can recover from their disappointing loss away to Middlesbrough on Sunday, their first defeat in twenty-two league games.

“This game is a good opportunity for us to bounce back," said Bendtner, who came on as a second-half substitute at the Riverside Stadium.

"We're disappointed but when you play in such a tough league, losing is always going to happen. We need to put that behind us and show everyone what we're all about."

With the pressure off Wenger’s men for the game, the young charge will be hoping his display can earn him a place in the starting eleven for Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with rivals Chelsea.

[berbs]

Lucky Arsenal scumbags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrGreen]

Thought Bendtner looked quality the few times i saw him play last season.