Arsene Wenger challenges Nicklas Bendtner to take his chance

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has challenged outcast Nicklas Bendtner to take his chance and says that he believes in the Dane's qualities.

Bendtner, who has been on loan at Juventus and Sunderland in the past two seasons, was close to leaving the North London club on transfer deadline day.

Wenger has now given the striker a vote of confidence ahead of a return to the first team for the Capital One up clash against West Brom.

"He has responded with a good attitude in training and good, hard work," Wenger told reporters at the pre-match press conference. "The real response that he can show is at West Brom.

"He had nearly gone somewhere else and in the end he stayed because it didn't work out and we needed him here. Now he can convince everybody. "We are open minded, we believe in his qualities. I believe in his qualities. It's just down to attitude and fighting spirit. When he has that, Nicklas can be unstoppable."

Arsenal take on West Brom at the Hawthorns in the second round of the Capital Cup on Wednesday night.