Capital One Cup: Nicklas Bendtner set to make his Arsenal return against West Brom two years after his last appearance for the Gunners
Striker Olivier Giroud is likely to be rested and Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Bendtner has a chance of playing on Wednesday
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Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Nicklas Bendtner could make his Arsenal return on Wednesday when the Gunners travel to the Hawthorns to take on West Brom in the Capital One Cup.
The Dane has not featured since the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool back in August 2011, but he is likely to play some part in the north London side’s midweek game as Wenger looks to give Olivier Giroud a rest.
Giroud has started every game for the Gunners so far this season – the five League games and the two Champions League qualifiers as well as the first group match against Marseille – and he didn’t look as sharp in yesterday’s victory over Stoke as he has done in previous games.
"We have a Capital One Cup game at West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday and I will rotate the team, of course. Nicklas Bendtner has a chance to be involved," Wenger admitted in an email sent to Arsenal supporters earlier today.
"Jack Wilshere will not play. Normally I would have rested him on Sunday and I decided to take him off because he was a bit exhausted towards the end.
"Rotating the squad is important because we play again on Saturday and after that we have a massive home game in the Champions League (against Napoli).
"We will need everyone to play their part."
Wenger has also been quick to praise Mesut Ozil’s impact on his side, with the 24-year-old taking very little time to settle in.
Ozil provided all three scoring chances on the win over Stoke. His free-kick early in the match was parried into the path of Ramsey, who didn’t need a second invitation to slot home from close range. He then provided the chance from a corner for Per Mertesacker to send a looping header over the stranded Asmir Begovic, before rounding out his hat-trick of key passes with a curling free kick that allowed Bacary Sagna to find the net and complete the scoring.
"When you look at his numbers, the assists are not a coincidence, it's just the reality of his game. I believe that once he is completely integrated we'll see even more from him," claimed Wenger.
"It shows how important the delivery is and Mesut Ozil can provide that."
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