‘Upset’ Bendtner refutes misleading reports

NICKLAS BENDTNER has denied saying he should play “every minute of every game” for Arsenal no matter who is fit.

“I’ve never said anything like what they put in the newspapers,” he claimed yesterday after helping Arsenal through to the fifth round of the FA Cup. “And it makes me upset because it comes across really bad.

“None of it was said like that. Basically I did a long interview for the Danish press recently, they asked me a lot of questions and the press over here have taken my answers and twisted them out of proportion.

“I was happy with the article in the Danish magazine and if you saw it you would realise that what was reported over here was not true.

“There is nothing you can do about it when they change what has been said and it’s annoying because it makes people think ‘what is he playing at?’

“If I feel the need to say something to my team-mates to explain it then I will do, but they know that I am right behind the team and wouldn’t say things like that.”

Arsenal match-winner Eduardo scored twice on his first appearance for almost a year against Cardiff, and hailed the double as “the best day of my life”.

“It was a special moment to score, very emotional. I celebrated by kissing my wedding ring — because my wife and daughter and family supported me right through this.”

Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, paid tribute to the striker’s reserves of mental strength.

“He’s been extremely strong mentally. I’ve never seen one minute of doubt in his mind, not one minute where he said ‘I don’t want to do this’. He is always wanting more. This guy is small but he has the mental strength of a mountain.”

Eduardo came off with a slight hamstring complaint, but Wenger insisted he could yet prove crucial to the Gunners’ season.