Juventus Boss Antonio Conte Defends Arsenal Misfit

Juventus head coach Antonio Conte has defended Arsenal's much criticised striker Nicklas Bendtner, insisting the Dane left a very good impression at the Bianconeri after his loan spell last season.

The 27-year-old spent last season in Serie A as Juventus lifted the Serie A title but Bendtner's contribution was non-existent, making just 11 appearances for the club and failing to score a single goal.

Bendtner's reputation took another hammering during the summer transfer window when a number of moves to clubs across Europe fell through due to the striker's excessive salary demands, despite not being in Arsene Wenger's first team plans at the Emirates.

Despite his controversial moments, Conte firmly believes the Denmark international is not a disruptive influence, insisting his club do not have a bad word to say about the Arsenal man.

"I have only good things to say about Bendtner," Conte told reporters. "He came to the club and after a difficult first period, he started.

"Then he had the misfortune to be injured and he was out for three months. Then when he did come back, he got injured again.

"Bendtner left a good impression on everyone at Juventus. Some call him a bad boy, but that is not the impression he left with us."

The Arsenal striker, who has not played a single game for his club since August 2011, released a statement after the transfer window closed announcing Arsenal had pulled the plug on a move to another English side - reportedly Crystal Palace -after the Gunners themselves failed to bring in further reinforcements up front.

The Daily Mail report the Arsenal outcast is currently in Copenhagen where he is completing an intensive fitness regime in a bid to get himself back into contention for a squad place in north London.

Bendtner has not been named in a single Arsenal squad since returning to the club in the summer, but could find himself back in contention once he rediscovers his fitness given the Gunners' dearth of forward options.

Olivier Giroud remains as the club's only established central forward option along with the untested Yaya Sanogo.