Gunners striker Bendtner vows to silence the Anfield crowd as Arsenal hunt Euro glory - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Gunners striker Bendtner vows to silence the Anfield crowd as Arsenal hunt Euro glory

Nicklas Bendtner has vowed Arsenal will not be intimidated by the Anfield roar as the Gunners aim to keep their Champions League dream alive against Liverpool.

Arsenal travel to Merseyside locked at 1-1 in their quarter-final, second leg clash and 20-year-old striker Bendtner insists his side will not wilt under the pressure of a raucous home support on Tuesday night.

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Same again: Bendtner will be looking for a repeat of his Emirates goal at Anfield on Tuesday

Same again: Bendtner will be looking for a repeat of his Emirates goal at Anfield on Tuesday

"We went there before this season and everyone was telling me before that game how great a place Anfield can be to play in," said the Dane, who scored the equaliser in the 1-1 Premier League draw with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

"I came on and the atmosphere was fantastic. I expect the same on Tuesday, but we have to deal with it and win the game. As a player, you always want to produce, and in a big game even more so."

The Premier League clash at Anfield in October also ended 1-1 and Arsenal know they must score or they will be eliminated. Bendtner, however, is backing his team-mates.

"We have prepared well and kept the belief in the squad," he said. "I don't think we have many goalless draws at this club. They will have their game plan and we will have ours. We always score and get our chances."

Despite Bendtner's confidence, Arsenal are in danger of ending the season without a trophy for the third year running - a slump unprecedented during Arsene Wenger's 12-year reign.

Saturday's 1-1 draw means Arsenal have picked up just eight points from their last seven League games and their title hopes are now effectively over.

Wenger accepts that Arsenal's loss of form coincided with the loss of three key players through injury - Eduardo, Robin van Persie and Tomas Rosicky. All three have been absent for much of the spring and van Persie has not played regularly since October.

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Nicklas Bendtner says he won't be worried by the Anfield fans (above) tomorrow

Nicklas Bendtner says he won't be worried by the Anfield fans (above) tomorrow

"It was difficult to predict that all three would be out together for such a long time," said Wenger. "I think had we got them back in the team, we'd still be up there."

Mind you, all three were absent when Arsenal produced the performance of the season - that epic 2-0 victory over AC Milan in Italy in the Champions League last month.

Wenger has told his players they must dig deep to "recover physically and mentally" after the first two parts of their triple-header with Liverpool.

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