Bendtner: Why 52, and my targets for the season

Striker Nicklas Bendtner has enjoyed somewhat of a love-hate relationship with Arsenal fans, and being a player who has never been viewed as first choice.

The Dane has also had to contend with various newspapers fabricating somewhat cocky statements about his abilities and his future within the team. Bendtner, on several occasions, reiterated his desire to stay and establish himself at Arsenal.

The start of this season has been no different. The Danish international curiously changed his squad number from 26 to 52, and despite earlier saying that he would like to keep the reasons for the change close to his chest, Bendtner feels it's time to explain why.

Some Arsenal fans have jokingly said that the change could be because manager Arsène Wenger had asked for twice the effort from him this season, hence changing from 26 to 52, but the real reason is something simple.

Bendtner said: "Very good - I like it [the joke from Arsenal fans]. That's not bad. After looking at the videos, I reckon I should have scored 25 goals last season not 15. I missed four in one game at Burnley alone.

"Actually, my favourite number is 7. But it's already being used by Tomas [Rosicky]. So I've decided to go for 52, as it adds up to 7. It also sounds alot better than 43. I would never use 25."

Talking about this targets for the new season, and on his relationship with former strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor, the 21-year-old added: "I love high-level competition and feel the more people you have to challenge for your place the sweeter it is when you take it from them. I have always been a fighter and that's the way I like it.

"Did I get on with Emmanuel? We played in the same team. Outside that we just tried to make it work. We didn't exactly go to the pub together. When did we last speak? I can't remember.

"I thought it was an equal battle with Adebayor. The frustrating thing was I could play well and lose my place - on the basis of his goals the previous season. I wanted to show I could do the same.

"It has taken some time. I am happy with my game though the last part - putting the ball in the net - is not flawless and never will be. But I think I have gone through my Sunday League stage. It will never happen again."

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