Arsenal 2 Cardiff City 0: Wenger lavishes praise on Bendtner

Arsene Wenger heaped praise on Nicklas Bendtner after the striker’s late goal helped Arsenal to victory over Cardiff City to keep them top of the Premier League table.

Wenger’s men went close through Theo Walcott and Per Mertesacker at Emirates Stadium before substitute Bendtner drilled home from point-blank range in the 89th minute after Bacary Sagna’s effort was parried by goalkeeper David Marshall.

He is a player who has gone through some difficult periods so I just want to give him great credit

Arsene Wenger

The Denmark international was immediately substituted after picking up an ankle injury.

Walcott then added a second with a neat chip moments later to wrap up the victory and move the Gunners one point above second-placed Manchester City.

“We needed resilience and intelligence not to make a mistake at the back and continue to go forward. In the end, Nicklas got us great relief,” said Wenger.

“He is a player who has gone through some difficult periods so I just want to give him great credit.

“I told him already today that he is back to the level I want him to be at, and if he continues to develop like that he will come back into the team.

“Unfortunately he got injured today and it looks like it is not a question of days, but weeks, with a sprained ankle. I am very sad for us, but for him as well.”

On Bendtner’s injury, Wenger added: “Usually he is not a fragile player, he was a bit unlucky. He said he landed on the foot of a Cardiff player and turned his ankle.”