The Danish striker was tipped for greatness as he emerged from the Gunners’ academy – but he struggled to cement himself in the first team while Wenger was in the Emirates hot seat

Nicklas Bendtner has lifted the lid on why he did not live up to his potential at Arsenal, suggesting he needed stronger input from former manager Arsene Wenger.

Bendtner emerged from the Gunners’ academy in 2005 and spent nine years with the first team, scoring 45 goals in 171 games.

But the Danish striker was a largely peripheral figure under Wenger’s management and was loaned to Birmingham, Sunderland and Juventus before leaving permanently for Wolfsburg in 2014.

The 32-year-old – now a free agent – believes a different management style may have helped him develop into a better player, though he maintains he has “tremendous respect” for Wenger.