Bendtner on fire as Orient feel Gunners’ wrath

ARSENE WENGER last night told Nicklas Bendtner to forget about facing Barcelona despite his sublime hat-trick in Arsenal’s cathartic victory over Leyton Orient.

Compounding the misery of Sunday’s League Cup Final defeat at Wembley was the injury to Robin van Persie, sustained, ironically, as he scored Arsenal’s only goal. But Bendtner could not have done more to persuade his manager that he’s ready to the fill Van Persie’s boots in the coming weeks, as he set up Arsenal’s 5-0 victory with three of the best.

However, when asked whether his exploits against the League One side has cemented Bendtner’s place at the Nou Camp next week, Wenger said: “It puts him in contention to play against Sunderland on Saturday.