Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner: ‘We have the players and the mentality to create something special’

Nicklas Bendtner celebrates his hat-trick against Leyton Orient (Getty)

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Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner claims failure to win a trophy this season will result in further criticism of the north London side, but believes Arsene Wenger’s men have what it takes to be successful.

The Dane, who scored a hat-trick in the Gunners’ 5-0 victory over Leyton Orient in Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round replay, is hoping to capitalise on the absence of fellow front man Robin van Persie, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Speaking to reporters, Bendtner said: “At the end of the day, we know all of you guys are going to rate us on one thing [trophies] but that is what we are trying to achieve. I believe it will be different this season.

“We have beaten some great teams and we are in amongst it for everything. I believe we have the players and the mentality to create something special.

“The way you rate strikers is with goals and with teams, it is what they win. It’s part of the game. We want to try and get our beautiful football into trophies.”

The 23-year-old is set to start against Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday, but is already looking to Tuesday’s Champions League return leg against Barcelona, a fixture last year which saw him score at Camp Nou in Arsenal’s 4-1 defeat.

“The dream scenario is to lead the line and score again against Barcelona,” Bendtner continued. “It is a difficult place to go and Barcelona have not failed to score there [for what seems like] forever, but we have to be compact, press in a good way, have a good balance and then take our chances because Barcelona always score at home.

“It is going well, we are a team and I think that the team will win in Barcelona, not just one player.”