Exclusive Interview
Ignite Campaign
An Interview with NICKLAS BENDTNER
Q: As the ball comes in, what’s your job then as a striker, and what actually did you do to make sure you get that ball?
A: You need the timing and the pace, and the most important thing is to get across the first defender on the first post and I do it as well here, and that’s why I get my reward, with a goal.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the Arsenal way of playing, can you tell us a little bit about what that actually is?
A: Yeah, I think our game is based a lot on one-two touch. It has a lot to do with movement and timing, and if you combine all those together, I think its very difficult for any team to defend, any team who has that for me is difficult to defend, and will always score goals.
Q: And I suppose the way Arsenal works is that you guys have been given opportunities, and Arsène, he gives responsibilities to young players, with Cesc being the captain. So, there are some young players out there who maybe lacking in confidence, to take those opportunities. Can you explain, for example, when you get that start, how do you mentally prepare yourself to take that opportunity that you’ve been given?
A: I should say, I think it comes down to mentality, but you have to think about your 11 players in the team. You have to count on your teammates, and when you do get your chance, you gotta go out there and play your own game. And you gotta focus on trying to win the game with the team, because that’s the way you gotta do it. So mentally, you’ve gotta just put yourself into the situation and just prepare really well.
Q: And can you describe a little bit about the first time you actually walked down the tunnel, that’s sort of a big moment really in anyone’s career as a young player. How does it feel? does it feel like a lot of responsibility when you come down the tunnel, with the fans waiting?
A: Oh, yeah, you want to entertain but you also know what is expected of you, you have great expectations on your shoulders, you play for one of the biggest clubs of the world. We expect to win every game, against whoever we play, so you gotta be able to take up responsibility when you get on, and then hopefully have a good game and enjoy yourself and then everyone can have a good time.
Q: I was talking to you earlier about Cesc being such a young captain, it must be a massive accolade for him, does it help you when you’re developing, to see other young players kind of given this responsibility, they’re role models for you to develop as a player?
A: Yeah, but Cesc has played I think 250 games for the first team. He’s young of age, but he’s not young of experience, and a lot of other thing on the pitch. and I think playing that center mid-field is a great responsibility for him and I think he’s been a great captain for Arsenal. I should say he’s young, and it shows all through the academy as well and for all, to all the young players that if you work hard, and you really give in a lot of effort, things will come to you.
Q: I think Cesc said something really interesting about this, he said when he was at that age, he always wanted to play a 40 yard pass. Every time he wanted to have that killer pass. And now he’s much more mature in his decision-making. Could you say something about, not just the ability with your feet, but also mentally in terms of making the right decisions on the pitch?
A: Yeah, making the right decisions all the time is what makes the difference, but it’s also about bravery. If we take for example, the other goal the other night, if Cesc would never have passed his ball, and hadn’t the bravery in the 89th minute to try to make the pass, we wouldn’t have scored. And I think this has a lot to do with football, if you make the right decisions, that’s what changes the game.
Q: Absolutely, and I think in terms of that bravery, you may be a very talented young player, you have the ability to play that pass, but maybe mentally they are not confident enough to do that, how would you sort of help them build that bravery, that confidence, in order to help them take their game to the next level?
A: Well, it’s something you gotta work on in training, and you gotta say to yourself, why should I not be able to make this pass? I know that I can do it, so I’ll just have to try and it might fail one or two times but eventually if you keep trying and you keep working on it, it should go your way.
Q: Fantastic. I’ve got one last question – if I’m gonna be as good a striker as you, what is the single secret to being such a great striker that you are?
A: I think you have to work hard, and you have to have a lot of belief in yourself and what you can do.
Small-sided games
Q: Does Arsène get you playing small games in the training, I mean, how do you use small games in the training?
A: Yeah, we play a lot of short games, you know, when we play 11 against 11, we always play on half a pitch, or if not smaller, or we play four-against four, depending on how hard training is and how many games we’ve played. But we do a lot of short passing, and I think it’s very beneficial in the game.
Q: If you could just explain a little bit about how playing that 11 on 11 in a small pitch helps when you’re playing a defensive team and space is very very tight, they won’t give you any space.
A: Yeah, that’s very true. Unfortunately, that’s what happens a lot with us, that a lot of teams, they back down and play a lot of people behind the ball, so we gotta find a way and combination through that, and we do it in training, and we know what to do, and I think it shows in most games and we’re capable of handling that.
Q: Completely, I totally agree. And obviously, Denilson, and the others, they’re all very young players. Do you think that because you were brought in early, you kind of learned a similar kind of way of playing football? That Arsène kind of teaches you?
A: Yeah, he does. Everyone that comes into Arsenal knows the way to play, and I should say, we are really young, and if we all develop the way we should, then I think we will have an absolutely amazing team. Plus, all the young players will just get better with time, and then we have that with the experience, so I think it’s a very a great and very competitive combination.
Q: And when you were a lad, what kind of sport did you play as a young player? Was it kind of a traditional five-a-side, or was it indoor, outdoor…?
A: I played a lot! I’ve done everything – I’ve played indoor, outdoor, I just wanted to play as much as I could.
Q: And so, when you did that, was it with a club, was it kind of casual, organized?
A: I did both, and I still do. When I go home for the summer, I still try to go out there and play around with my mates. I think it’s very important to keep that relationship intact. And also, I just, you know, I play it with my club and we have great pleasure out of that as well.
Q: When you were playing with your friends, or say, five-on-five or a small game of football, is there a particular skill that you’ve learned from that kind of game, which becomes useful when you play 11-a-side football?
A: I think yeah, like challenging your opponents, you know. When you’re young and you play, you always think you gotta juggle everyone, and I take that into a contest, and now I like to give the ball as well. So it’s a good combination for me to learn that from a young age.
