Nicklas Bendtner is back at Arsenal and ready for action

Nicklas Bendtner, a man in the wilderness for 2 years following loan spells with Sunderland and an unsuccessful one with Juventus is back at Arsenal and is ready for a second chance. Arsenal failed to sign a top class striker in the summer, and with injuries all over the place Nicklas Bendtner has found himself wanted by Arsene Wenger. Demba Ba was rumoured to be joining the club on deadline day with Bendtner moving to Crystal Palace on a permanent deal. However that failed to materialise and a day later Bendtner issued a statement declaring that he was ready to make Wenger proud and help the club with their ambitions this season.

Take me back: Bendtner's last game for Arsenal was as a sub back in August 2011

 This was the main part of the Danish striker's statement, to real the full thing click here.

"I want to assure all Arsenal fans that I will give everything I have to contribute to what I believe will be a successful season for the club."

"I still feel very strongly about Arsenal Football Club and following positive talks with the Manager, I am looking forward to working hard to regain full fitness and doing my very best to help the team and the Manager fulfil our objectives and ambitions this season."

That all comes from a man who said previously that he would never play for Arsenal again. If Bendtner manages to pull his socks up and actually puts the effort in to make it at Arsenal then he could be really good back-up for Olivier Giroud. He has more than proven that he can score goals, the majority of them coming in the Cup competitions when van Persie was rested or injured back in the day. He looked good at Euro 2012 with Denmark, scoring twice against Portugal, whilst having an influence in the games against Holland and Germany. Following on from Euro 2012 he went out on loan to Juventus. However his spell at the club wasn't such a good one. He played just 10 games and scored none. Juve won Serie A that season and the Dane was stuck behind Vucinic, Giovinco, Anelka, Quaglierella and Matri in the pecking order so it's no wonder he had limited chances to show what he could do.

Bendtner has been at Arsenal since 2005 and is one of our longest serving players. He's made 99 league appearances scoring 22 and altogether 45 goals in 157 games. Not a bad return for a man that usually had to settle for a place on the bench. Should he get himself back to full fitness and actually give his all then it'll be interesting to see what he can achieve with the Gunners this season.

Euro 2012 Review: Spain are crowned Champions

Sunday night saw Spain create history as they beat Italy 4-0 in Kiev to win Euro 2012. Spain were the first side to win back to back European Championships which added to their World Cup success of 2010. It was a victory that confirmed Spain's status as one of the best ever international sides to grace the planet.

The victory was very convincing and the Italians didn't really look like winning it at any time in the match. The scoring was opened just 14 minutes in as Cesc Fabregas, who was once again starting upfront, got to the byline before pulling the ball back onto the head of David Silva who found the net. The second goal came 4 minutes from half time as Xavi played a wonderful ball into Jordi Alba who raced clear on goal and slotted the ball past Buffon in the Italian goal. Italy's cause wasn't helped as just minutes after coming on, Thiago Motta had to be taken off, with no substitutes remaining, the Italians had to finish the game with 10 men. This had a massive affect on how the match was to finish. Fernando Torres came on and went onto grab his third of the competition. He then managed to set up the fourth goal for the Spaniards as he found Juan Mata who tapped the ball into an empty net. It was a goal and an assist that would secure the Spaniard the golden boot. Fellow teammate Andres Iniesta was also awarded UEFA's player of the tournament award.

Spain's incredible four goal margin of victory over the Italians meant that it was the biggest victory in a final of a European Championship. Spain had certainly shown that they weren't lacking spirit or hunger of winning another major tournament as they were crowned Euro 2012 winners.

Spanish captain Iker Casillas holds the trophy aloft

Euro 2012 Review: Spain and Italy through to the final

Euro 2012 is now reaching it's climax after the finalists for the tournament were decided on Thursday and Friday night.

The first semi-final was between Portugal who had beaten Czech Republic in the quarter-finals against neighbours Spain who had beaten France to make it into the semi-finals. It was a very close match in which Spain were playing their worst football of the tournament and were quite wasteful by their high standards. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo had most of the chances, mainly from free-kicks but most of them sailed harmlessly over the crossbar. However no goal scorer could be found in normal time and then in extra time either which meant the game went to penalties. The first two penalties were saved and then the centre backs on either side stepped up to take penalties and succesfully scored. However it was a Portuguese centre back who missed a crucial penalty which left Cesc Fabregas to find the net, via the post with the deciding penalty to send Spain into the final. The final score in the shootout finished Portugal 2-4 Spain.

The second semi-final was between Germany who had beaten Greece emphatically in the quarters against Italy who had knocked England out. Germany were favourites to make it through and maybe go on to win the tournament. However it was not to be as Italy sprung a suprise victory to make it through to the final. A brilliant header and a fine striker from outside the area from Mario Balotelli ensured Italy were ahead at the break. Germany fought back but wasted chances through Lahm and Reus. Germany did eventually get their goal in injury time as Mesut Ozil fired home from the penalty spot but it wasn't enough as the final score finished Germany 1-2 Italy.

So the final of Euro 2012 will be between the last two World Champions in Spain and Italy on Sunday night in the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

Mario Balotelli scored twice to send Italy into the final

Euro 2012 Review: England out as Italy and Spain go through

The quarter finals are now complete and we now know which teams will face each other in the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

The fourth and final quarter final saw England play Italy. Roy Hodgson had stuck with the same team that had beaten Ukraine in their final group game but were far from their best. Italy dominated as they had a host of chances in which to go through. However it went to extra time but a scorer still couldn't be found. The game went to penalties and of course, England lost. Italy missed their first penalty through Montolivo but Ashley Young and Ashley Cole both then missed penalties later on in the shootout. Diamante stepped up to take the deciding penalty which he comfortably converted to send Italy through to the semi-finals. The final score on penalties finished England 2-4 Italy. England deserved to be knocked out on the night but can hold their heads high as with the weak squad they had taken to Poland and Ukraine there is nothing to be ashamed of.

The quarter-final the day before saw Spain play France. The French had Mexes suspended so Laurent Koscielny came into the side for his first game of the tournament. However, arguably their best player of the tournament, Samir Nasri was strangely left out of the starting XI. The Spanish though, as they did in their first group game, played without a striker as Cesc Fabregas lead the line. Spain were the dominant side and deservedly went through. The first goal was set up from a fine piece of play from Jordi Alba who got to the byline before finding the head of Xabi Alonso who gave them the lead. In the dying moments of the game Alonso grabbed his second goal of the game from the penalty spot to send Spain through as the final score ended Spain 2-0 France.


Diamante scored the desicive penalty as England were knocked out

Euro 2012 Review: Portugal and Germany through to Semis

Two of the quarter-finals at Euro 2012 are now complete after the Group A and B winners and runner-ups of the groups played each other on Thursday and Friday night.

The first quarter-final of the tournament was between Group A winners Czech Republic and Group B runners-up Portugal. Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky was once again missing the game through injury, which turned out to be crucial as Portugal dominated the game as the Czech's had very little chances. As expected it was the Portuguese who made it through thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo who was finally showing glimpses of his brilliant club form at a major international tournament. He was the loan goal scorer as he headed the ball home brilliantly to send his country through. The final score finished Czech Republic 0-1 Portugal.

The second quarter-final was between Germany and a Greece side trying to replicate the miracles of 2004. Germany gambled with their side as their front three that had played every game of the tournament so far did not play, as Reus, Klose and Schurrle came in for Muller, Gomez and Podolski. The final score though showed no signs that they were missing those players. Germany dominated as was expected and despite missing a host of chances early on still managed to take the lead through a sweetly struck shot from Lahm. However 10 minutes after half time Greece equalised as Salpingidis slipped the ball over to Samaras who tapped the ball home. Germany then scored three goals in quick succession to send the Greeks out as Khedira, Klose and Reus grabbed goals. Late on, Greece got a consolation goal as Salpingidis converted a penalty but the final score finished Germany 4-2 Greece.

Germany captain Phillip Lahm opened the scoring as Germany reached the semi-finals

Euro 2012 Review: England beat Ukraine to reach quarters

England completed a far from convincing win in their final group D game against co-hosts Ukraine as Wayne Rooney returned from suspension to pop up with the vital goal. Rooney was the only change to the side that had beat Sweden last Friday as he came in for Andy Carroll. The England striker was far from his best , missing a free header from 4 yards out in the first half, but early into the second half he made up for it, as he got onto the end of Gerrard's deflected cross to nod the ball home from a yard out. The final score in Donetsk finished England 1-0 Ukraine. The result meant that England had managed to avoid Spain meaning they are to play Italy in the quarter-finals after finishing top of their group.

Wayne Rooney returned from suspension to head England into the quarter-finals

The other game of the day sprung a suprise as France suffered a defeat at the hands of Sweden. Sweden were playing for nothing but pride after already knowing their fate of being knocked out before the game had started. However it was a great performance from the Swedes as goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Seb Larsson meant the final score finished Sweden 2-0 France in Kiev.

Those final group results mean that the lineup for the quarter-finals has now been decided and are as follows...

Czech Republic v Portugal - 21st June in Warsaw
Germany v Greece - 22nd June in Gdansk
Spain v France - 23rd June in Dontetsk
England v Italy - 24th June in Kiev

Euro 2012 Review: Group A, B and C reach conclusions

Group A, Group B and Group C have now all reached conclusions and we now know which teams from those three groups will be going through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012.

Group A saw 2004 winners Greece spring a surprise to beat and knockout dark horses Russia to second spot as Karagounis scored a late first half goal to send the Greeks through as they beat Russia 1-0 in their final group game. The other team to make it through from the group was Czech Republic. They were thought to be long shots to make it through after losing their first group game 4-1 to Russia but a well taken goal from Jiracek sent them through as they knocked co-hosts Poland out of the competition with a 1-0 win. 
Group B also sprang a surprise as Holland were beaten and knocked out by Portugal, who beat the Dutch 2-1, thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. That result meant that the Portuguese went through along with Germany who were victors over a good Denmark side as new Arsenal signing Lukas Podolski along with Lars Bender scored for the Germans to seal a 2-1 win. 

Group C didn't really throw up any shocks as both Spain and Italy, the teams expected to make it through from the group did. The final games finished Italy 2-0 Ireland thanks to goals from Cassano and Balotelli whilst Spain were far less convincing in their final group game but still managed to come away with victory as a single Jesus Navas goal meant the final score finished Croatia 0-1 Spain.

Euro 2012 Review - Day One:

Euro 2012 saw one of the most exciting starts to a major tournament in recent years as seven goals were scored, red cards were shown and penalties were missed.

The first game saw co-hosts Poland, the lowest rank side in the competition take on a Greece side that won the tournament back in 2004. Poland looked favourites going into the game as they had the home support and it definately looked like going Poland's way as the game got underway, Greece were terrible at the back and looked like they were going to concede after every Poland break forward. That was eventually the case as Blaszczykowski found the head of Manchester United target Robert Lewandowski who found the net. However the game from then on seemed to be ruined by a poor refereeing performance as Socratis Papastathopoulos was shown a second yellow card and was sent off harshly for blocking off a player that was already slipping. However 6 minutes after the break Greece equalised as they took advantage of a slip up in the hosts defence as substitute Salpingidis fired home for the Greeks. The game then saw its second red card of the match as Szczesny brought down Salpingidis and was sent off whilst also giving away a penalty. However the sub goalkeeper, Tyton, dived the right way to keep the penalty out, much to the relief of Szczesny. The final score ended Poland 1-1 Greece.

The second game of the day saw Andrey Arshavin's Russia against Tomas Rosicky's Czech Republic. Both players are captain's of their respective nations which saw both of them shake hands at the coin toss before the game. Once the match did get started, it was once again a fantastic match, perhaps not as much drama as the days earlier game but football wise it was a fantastic match. Russia showed that they could be dark horses in the competition as they dominated Czech Republic with a very impressive display as Arshavin showed glimpses of his normal self, playing a part in two of the Russian goals. Young CSKA Moscow midfielder, Alan Dzagoev opened the scoring as he grabbed two on the night, meanwhile Shirokov and Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko got one each as Pilar scored the Czech's only goal in a weak performance from them. The final score finished Russia 4-1 Czech Republic.

Wojciech Szczesny was sent off in Poland's game against Greece