NOW FACES A FIGHT FOR HIS FUTURE
GAMES 2005-14 Arsenal .................... 171 2006-07 Birmingham (loan)..48 2011-12 Sunderland (loan) ...... 30 2012-13 Juventus (loan) ........... 11 2014-16 Wolfsburg .................. 47 2016-17 Nottm Forest ............. 17 2017-19 Rosenborg ................. 86 2019-Present Copenhagen ...... 6 Total ....................................... 416 now my focus is only on tomorrow. Then we need time because he is one of our players and we want to protect him. At the moment he is not in the group.”
Gunners fullback Hector Bellerin (right, 45 13 8 0 9 2 35 0 with Xhaka) has told him he has to deal with the abuse hurled his way. The Spaniard, who will take over as skipper today, has suffered criticism from his owns fans – memorably during a woeful display at Arsenal to win 2-0 NICKLAS BENDTNER branded Arsene Wenger an “a**hole and w **** r” in a furious telephone call after the former Arsenal boss stopped him from joining Crystal Palace.
Danish international Bendtner, 31, had fallen out of favour at Arsenal and was on the brink of moving to Selhurst Park to make a fresh start on deadline day in 2013.
But former Arsenal boss Wenger called Bendtner to tell him he would have to stay and be a back-up striker, even though Palace were offering “serious money.”
In his new book Both Sides, Bendtner is largely positive about Wenger and his influence on his career but is still bitter about the move to Palace which collapsed at the 11th hour. And Crystal Palace in 2017. “It was really hard for me back then,” said Bellerin.
“But I said to Granit, this is what it is like in every other walk of life. These are things we need to learn to deal with.”
The Europa League tie is being held today because local rivals Sporting Braga play at home tomorrow while the 3.50pm kick-off time is to avoid a clash with Champions League fixtures.
Douglas, Rochinha, Tapsoba, Henrique, Florent, Agu, Evangelista, Davidson; Bonatini, Edwards, Duarte
Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac, Willock, Torreira, Ceballos, Pepe, Martinelli, Saka
Halis Ozkahya