Bendtner in new Arsenal injury blow

Niklas Bendtner has given Arsenal another injury setback.

Denmark boss Morten Olsen has revealed he does not expect Bendtner to play for him again this year.

That comes on top of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie being ruled out for several weeks after suffering an ankle injury at Blackburn on Saturday.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is hoping to have Bendtner back in full training by early October at the latest and believes he could be back in action by November.

But that is a longer lay-off than Arsenal first expected for Bendtner as Wenger was hoping to have the Danish striker back in September.

Bendtner has struggled with a groin injury problem since being involved in a car crash last autumn.

He had surgery but was out for nearly three months and also had injury troubles at the World Cup.

It is the last thing Wenger needs on top of losing van Persie and new signing Marouane Chamakh will lead the attack in the next few weeks.

Wenger may be forced to use in-form winger Theo Walcott as a centre forward after the injury setbacks.