Redknapp may consider him a ‘reject’ but does he still have a chance with Arsenal?

Charming though he is, Harry Redknapp isn’t exactly renowned for his sensitivity. Take his recent quotes regarding on loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, who’s currently plying his trade for Sunderland under Martin O’Neill. In the build-up to Tottenham’s 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light a reporter suggested that the big Dane could cause Spurs some real difficulties.

It was a fair assessment – Bendtner had scored 4 goals in 7 games previous to the Spurs clash and may have been keen to impress against Arsenal’s North London rivals.

But Harry Redknapp made it clear he wasn’t worried about Bendtner causing Tottenham any problems: “If Arsene Wenger thought he was that good he wouldn’t let him go out on loan would he? Obviously he thought it was time to get him out of there.”

I won’t pretend that I’ve never knocked Nicklas Bendtner. He’s had a few bad, bad misses during his time with Arsenal and his inflated-ego makes him a difficult character to really defend. Yet I can’t help but feel that Redknapp could have paid him a little more respect.

Some may feel that he’s just ‘telling it how it is’, but there are plenty of good players currently out on loan (Tottenham’s Steven Pienaar for one) and big Nic has looked pretty decent in recent weeks. Bendtner took to Twitter to express his distaste: “I am not Even gonna commit [comment] on c*** liked that. Well done safc for the support today.”

Bad English aside, that’s the right attitude to take. But where does the future lie for the 24-year-old?

He’s said before that he ‘won’t return to Arsenal’, but I’m not sure if he’s currently standing by that statement. Martin O’Neill is keeping his cards close to his chest as to whether he plans to sign Bendtner in the summer.

Are his performances in recent weeks merely raising his price-tag or are they presenting an argument for his receiving a second chance with the Gunners?

With Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Young likely to be sold, Arsenal will need a reliable third or fourth choice striker. Is Bendtner that man?

We’ve seen what he can offer during his time with the Black Cats. He can hold up play, run channels and score goals. He also seems to have worked on his first touch during his time with Sunderland and now looks more confident on the ball. He’s still guilty of some bad misses, but the more regular football that he’s received the more composed he’s looked.

Best of all, he’s a threat in the air. He’s the kind of player that Wenger could throw on with 20 minutes left in a game where the Gunners have been struggling to provide them with a Plan B.

For that reason, I’d argue he’s a keeper.

What’s your take? Would you take Bendtner back at the Emirates for another season?

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