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Bendtner reveals battle of wills inside Arsenal over number wars

Submitted by tribalfootball.com on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 10:21

Nicklas Bendtner has revealed the battle of wills inside the Arsenal dressing room over assigned squad numbers.

Bendtner is running around in No52 this season - but only after he was denied from registering with No99.

“[The number] 99 is true, I’ll explain it,” he confessed to Arsenal TV Online.

“Originally I wanted the number 9 shirt, because number 9 has always and will always be my number. I’ve always played in it and this is the number that suits me and the one I want.

“Unfortunately I’ve asked Eduardo ever since he got here if he wants to swap, but the number he wants is taken and the guy who has his number doesn’t want to change! So he says ‘why should I change to a different number, when I don’t mind this one either?’ I can understand that.”

Asked which number Eduardo really wants, the Dane revealed: “He wants Gael’s [Clichy] number [22], but Gael doesn’t want to change his number because he’s always played in this number as well. So you can see everyone would have to change numbers for this to happen.

“I asked the FA if I could have the number 99, they said no, then 77, they said no. I also wanted 7 but of course Tomas [Rosicky] has that, same story. They said I had an option to pick from 30 – 60.

“My choice was number 52 for a number of reasons. It’s a strong number for me and it has a meaning to me. There is a bigger meaning behind it then the numbers 5 and 2 adding up to 7.”

Asked how long he had wanted to change his number, the Dane made clear:

“Ever since I got it, I wanted to change it. I like to walk out in my shirt and feel this is a thing that I like and that I want. Everytime I walk out in 26 I didn’t feel that was right for me.”

 
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Comments (15)

Submitted by Alli YAKUBU shaw (not verified) on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 14:52.

I'm still very surprise at most arsenal supporter.instead of supporting the team all the way they keep blaming some players.if we are ever going to end this drought(trophies) everyone of us has a role to play.the players are doing there job getting result and i think what we should do is to help them improve by applauding every one of them so as to keep them focus.i dont care who plays as long as we get the result.bendtner relax u might still get the no u deserve....up gunnas

Submitted by ROFLMFAO (not verified) on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 14:36.

Some great intelligent comments here again. Keep up the great work guys LMFAO

Submitted by A friend (not verified) on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 14:32.

Bcos most of us didn't take up to soccer & i bet u know most of us ar better dan bendtner in d things we take up to

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