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.

“Frankly, for us that is a vital game. We have to make our decisions game by game — if we beat Sunderland we are in a great position so our focus is on that game.”

Arsenal toiled against their lower-league opponents in the initial tie 10 days beforehand, but cruised to victory without ever hitting top gear in front of an Emirates crowd craving a response from Sunday’s crushing defeat.

Marouane Chamakh swept home his first goal since November after just seven minutes before Bendtner assumed centre stage. First the Denmark international steered a picture-book header into the top corner from 12 yards, before curling an inch-perfect strike into the far corner from even further out.

And he completed his second Arsenal hat-trick with a rasping penatly just after the break. There was even time for sub Gael Clichy to hammer home only his second professional goal, Arsenal’s fifth on the night, with 15 minutes left.

“It was important not to let ourselves down and we can focus on the coming weeks,” said Wenger. “We have Sunderland on Saturday, Barcelona on Tuesday and then Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final.”

One rookie to impress was 19-year-old Conor Henderson. The Ireland youth international midfielder has been hailed as Ireland’s answer to Jack Wilshere, who himself described Henderson as the “next Irish superstar”. Wenger was similarly impressed after last night’s senior debut, capped by setting up Bendtner’s second.

“He looks absolutely amazing,” said the Frenchman. “He has a nice, smooth left foot and a good build. Technically he is very good. He would have been involved earlier but he has had injuries.”

ARSENAL: Almunia (6) Eboue (6) Squillaci (6) Miquel (6) Gibbs (7) Diaby (6; 65) Henderson (6) Denilson (6) Bendtner (8; 65) Chamakh (7) Rosicky (7; 62)

ORIENT: Jones (4) Whing (5) Forbes (5) Chorley (6) Daniels (6) Smith (X) Dawson (6) Crowe (5; 65) Cox (7) McGleish (5; 65) Revell (6; 79)

Subs for Arsenal: Nasri (62; 7) Wilshere (65; 6) Clichy (65; 7) Subs for Orient: Tehoue (65; 6) Spring (65; 6) M’Poku (79; 6)

Referee: Lee Mason.