Bendtner's five year target

Striker Nicklas Bendtner has revealed that it is his ambition to become one of the world's best strikers in five years. Bendtner won the Best Danish Player award on Monday, and also won the award for Goal of the Year.

The 21-year-old is yet to cement his place in the side, seeing himself down the pecking order behind Robin van Persie and Eduardo.

Unfortunately, the Danish international underwent minor groin surgery yesterday, and has been ruled out for four weeks. It seems like it is a recurrence of the injury that Bendtner had initially recovered from.

Picking up his awards, Bendtner said: "I had three aims this year - to get into the Arsenal team, qualify for the World Cup and to be Player of the Year. I have achieved them all.

"I want to be top scorer in the Premier League, top scorer at the World Cup and, within five years, I want to be among the best strikers in the world."

I have always been a fan of Bendtner's ability, but feel that this is the year which he has to prove that he can make it at Arsenal. Yes, he's only 21 but at Arsenal, that's right about the age you start displaying ability that make people think, "He's going to be class."

At the moment, his performance against Burnley last season sticks in everyone's minds. His finish against Portugal and Liverpool in the Carling Cup will go some way to amend that, but he needs to be putting those chances away on a regular basis.

Speaking earlier this year, it is reassuring to see that the self-belief, bordering on arrogance, is there.

Bendtner said: "There has never been any doubt in my mind about anything to do with me. You can ask the coaches when I was 16, and even the other [youth team] players.

"I knew back then, and I would say it openly, that I would go on to play for the first team. And they would go, 'Huh, what makes you think it's going to be you?' But I always said I would make it and I had no problem telling other people about it.

"You need confidence and I have always had it. I have started this season better than I have started any other season, but I know there is a lot more to come and I know the people here know that as well. So I'm quite comfortable about how things are going to progress.

"Trust me, it will happen. I look around at other players, I see my own ability and I can't see anything that tells me it won't happen.

"I'm sure people will think 'What is he talking about?' But as I have done before, and as I will do again, I will sit at the other end and laugh at those people when it is all done."

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