Arsenal boss Wenger: Bendtner certainly does not lack self-belief!

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was pleased to see Nicklas Bendtner get on the scoresheet in their win over Sunderland.

Wenger admits Bendtner is not a player he needs to help with self-belief.

“He is quite confident, I must say!" smiled Wenger.

“It’s not a bad thing for a striker – there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you’re able to prove your confidence on the pitch.”

Having not bought a forward in last month’s transfer window and with his main man Robin van Persie seriously injured, the big question is can Bendtner match Chelsea’s Didier Drogba or Wayne Rooney of Manchester United in the title run-in?

The Frenchman’s answer was far from convincing.

“He’s 21 years old and he has different qualities,” he said. “He’s very strong, is 1.94m, he’s very intelligent and can improve an awful lot.

“How much he can improve is down to how hard he will work.

“Just because you’re confident doesn’t mean you don’t need encouragement from others on the pitch.

“He has common sense, accepts observations and tries to use it in a positive way. He has a good team attitude.

“Bendtner is in good shape. He had a good game in fairness to him and we hope that we will click in the final third.”