To be frank, over the last couple of seasons, I’ve been more scared of injuries than any team or opposition player. I’d certainly argue that we’ve lost more points to an astonishingly large number of injuries that also include some unique, hard to diagnose cases.
When Arsene said that Bendtner was going to miss the start of the season it left me really worried. Just a few days ago Arsene had said that the Dane was not far away and will be a week behind the others along with Denilson. Something’s changed in these few days and Denilson might be ready for the start but Bendtner won’t be.
If we really think about it,it seems the striker never completely recovered from the injury he picked up in October last year. And the real scary part is that the Bendtner story has a lot of parallels to Rosicky’s woes.
The youngster was substituted in the 3-0 win over Tottenham with a groin injury, which at the time seemed innocuous. He was expected to be out for up to four weeks but ended up missing close to three months.
Bendtner played a big role for us after his return but was injured again towards the end of the season. And we don’t really know how he managed to play for Denmark at the World Cup. It was probably due to pain medication and stuff like that because he was certainly not fit to play. He has come back to Arsenal in a crocked state I have a feeling no one really knows what his problem is. Obviously, treating the injury and ascertaining a return date becomes that much more difficult if we don’t know the exact ailment.
I think that is very similar to what happened to Rosicky except that the Czech star had a hamstring issue. At that time it seemed innocuous and Arsene had said it was a matter of days, not weeks. In the end it turned out it was a matter of years, not months! If I remember it right, Rosicky lost a lot of time because no one could make an accurate diagnosis.
I have in the past raised questions about Arsenal’s medical staff but both Bendtner and Rosicky have had treatment abroad as well. Bendtner had surgery in Germany and even the Denmark team doctors must have seen him. As in Rosicky’s case, no one seems to be able to get to the root of the problem and that doesn’t help anyone but hurts Arsenal the most.
Arsene has to rely on the opinion of the medical professionals and he makes his squad decisions and recovery date projections based on their advice. So far, it’s been wide off the mark and I’m a bit concerned this could go on forever! With Rosicky we had reached a stage when Wenger/Doctors didn’t know when the player will be back.
Of course, if you are a doom merchant or don’t like Bendtner then you get another reason to crib. It would be easy to say discard him and get someone else. Obviously, that works in Championship Manager and that means it’s the correct thing to do!
On the other hand if, like me, you believe in his potential and want him to succeed then there is genuine cause for concern. Arsenal have invested a lot of time and effort in developing Bendtner and he is now very close to being a top class striker. It will be a real shame if his injury problems take a year or two out of his playing career. I hope I’m wrong about this and the doctors are able to treat the Danish Player of the Year in an appropriate and timely manner.
Desi Gunner 
I’ve got a problem with Bendy inasmuch as he was aware that he was unfit at the end of last season yet he still trained with the Danish squad whose medical team also knew of his poor condition, and when he played it was obvious to all, and the baroness must have known yet he continued turning out for Denmark and was probably performing other groin related activities since and now returns crocked to his wage payer and requiring further surgery which may keep him out for months. Well I think that as he contributed to his current condition he should be suspended with no pay until he proves his fitness and has made a complete recovery.
All good players want to play. I don’t think the player will voluntarily opt out from a tournament such as the World Cup. Did Arsenal ask him to stay out? If the club did then you’re point is completely valid, otherwise we can’t really blame the player.
Is Bendtner’s Persistent Injury Threatening To Go The Rosicky Way?”
err….dunno. But lets write 500 words on it anyway
Simple answer – No.
Bendtner and Rosickys injurys have nothing in common. Bendtner got over his injury and then got a groin injury towards the end of the season. Him being missing now is as a result of poor medical staff (which Bendtner himself eluded to) and having to play despite not being fit at the WC.
Rosickys injury was just misdiagnosed horribly.
As far as I know, even in October he had a groin injury and he had surgery on that in Nov. Seems like the same things recurring although it could be a different one … there has been no conclusive comment that it’s same or different.
I just find it surprising that he could get two different groin injuries of such magnitude in such a short time.
I think it was big mistakes to sell Eduardo patience would have paid off in the end. Eduardo is a natural goalscorer always in position to score or miss, But Nicky is simply not good enough and it take him ages to even get in position. The whole injury story is typical of Wenger he need to zip his mouth cause he was going on about not needing another striker sound similar?
We been here before, Before we even go further he still has not filled the defence, Goalkeeper positions. Neither has ever replaced Viera.
For me these season is the final seasons when we have to part company with Wenger. Au revoir he has taken as from a team who happy to win anything to consistent winning except for last Five years, Which is excusable due to all we went through due to Stadium.
I think the writing is on the wall, The season has not even started and we are seeing same old mistakes. half way through seasons with transfer window shut then problems he ignored come to haunt, Enough let get someone more decisive and is able to change laid back environment is needed. why cause these players are being paid obscene money and the best they can do is to be smart or make effort.
I kind of see it as karma for mentioning he would jump at the chance to go to Barca. The day he said that was the day I stopped supporting him as a true Arsenal player. Is anyone else as exited as me about Mertesacker? He looks like a very good partner to Vermaelen in that he can take some leadership and covers very well so that Vermaelen can attack the ball. Obviously hes good in the air and hes got a lot of experience too! Him and Vertonghen (dreaming I know) would mean I wouldn’t be so worried about a keeper anymore. Let Szczesny have a shot. Mannone has also gained a lot of confidence from his run in the side. Can Mertesacker speak English? Does anyone know?
Is Mertesacker quick? I don’t ever remember watching him sprint. Not saying he isn’t good … just that I haven’t seen enough to comment … He is great in the air though. Would be a ‘big’ help on set-pieces.
Nope hes not quick but he is also not as slow as many make out. He relies on his communication with others and reading of the game rather than his pace. In my opinion thats what we have been missing, a true director at the back. Most teams have two directors in their back line, the keeper and one of the center backs. Vermaelen will get the job if we made no more signings but thats putting too much on his shoulders as he also has to make 2+ partnerships in his second year as well as huge expectations from everyone who saw his first season.
Just to add, he uses other things to make up for his lack of speed when covering. He has great positioning, tackling and anticipation which makes him always seem like hes in the right spot to make that covering tackle. Its hard to explain but it is almost like he is experienced well beyond his years and he plays like an experienced player in that he uses his head not just his pace to get him out of tight situations.
The ability to be in the right spot is as important for a defender as it is for a striker. One of the most underrated attributes I think. Probably because it’s not easy to notice the skill. Sounds like a great CB based on your “scouting report” 😀
While I appriciate your concerns about Benty, I somehow felt angry about his coments somewhre prior to th world cup in Denish camp whereby he blamed ARSENAL Mediical staff that their treatment was poor. At that time I felt he was just being miscoded by the press or media but I followed all his games in RSA in person(NOT on TV screens) I could see him and RVP were realy pushing above their limits. I blame both Denmark and Arsenal not to have put some restriction on their involvment on the World cup now who to blame? Arsenal has to suffer and it is not pleasant to to anticipate but what else can we do?
Re those comments, even I thought he was being misquoted or the media was up to it’s usual tricks. Not sure Bendtner will directly blame the Arsenal staff and that too in public. He seems a much more sensible person than that.
I guess the hype of the World Cup is such that the players are motivated to work as hard as possible. At least the good, non-english ones! I don’t think it’s fair to blame the players for that.
Bendtner is one player who needed the pres season the most..i blv in him and think he has the brains to make it big …his runs and positioning is top class..wat he lacked last season was his finishing (big time) and also a level of proactiveness…which is needed no mater where u play on the field…m sure wenger had a pre season plan for him…nt being fit enuf to start the season..will push every gooner to the limit when he comes back..coz without much training,..he wud be same old striker who gets in to the right positions but dsnt score !
i hope it gets sorted out soon…coz without him..its ony van the man (we all know how injury prone he is) and chamakh ! (who we cant really say much about as of now)
I thought Bendtner did well in Feb/March .. scored something like 8 or 9 goals in 11 matches or something like that. His finishing let him down only in that one game against burnley but apart from that some of his headers and even the goal against Hull were all examples of top class finishing.
well yea he did better than what we a-re use to seeing from hi,..a major chunk of his 8-9 goals came in the champ league match agnst porto..just aftr the burnley match..i was referring to juss that match..there is no doubt in my mind that he can be a brilliant striker…but he really needs to get his head down (and out of his shiny boots) and start working…by proative approach i ment the desire the win the ball even when u kno u have alsight chance of doin it…in some positions his built should give him the obvious advantage over his opponents but he just dsnt show that desire to win every ball. Lets hope he irons out this developmental issues and turns into a super star he thinks he can be.
My hopes of signing Vertonghen have finally come to an end. He was played in the Champions league qualifiers for Ajax… Until next year…
Well it seems the midfield will be pretty much the same. We’ll have to see how that works out. I’m a bit apprehensive but there is a good chance that the players will continue to improve.
We shouldn’t forget that Benty is physically stronger than Tommy. The Dane’s some 6-7 years younger than the Czech which automatically makes him better at recovering from injuries (assuming both players have almost similar injuries). But the real cause for concern is that his groin injury is looking like it’s turned into a recurring one. Now THAT’S SCARY. Any player, however good, can succumb to recurring injuries,……mentally, if not physically.