NICKLAS BENDTNER has performed a swift U-turn by insisting he is happy at Arsenal and never wanted to quit the club.

The Danish frontman is even prepared to play out of position if it means staying with the Gunners.

His comments are in stark contrast to what he said back in November when he threatened to leave the North Londoners if he did not get more first-team opportunities.

But as he prepares to warm the Emirates bench again against Everton tonight, he claimed: "There was never any doubt that I would leave Arsenal - it was just talk.

"I know the club are happy to have me and I'm happy to be at the club. There's never been any talk about me leaving in any formal way."

That is not what Bendtner said on November 12, though.

As he struggled to break back into the Gunners side after a groin problem, he said: "If the situation doesn't change and I'm still on the bench at Arsenal, I'll look for a transfer."

Bendtner played all of Sunday's 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round win over Huddersfield, firstly as a right winger and then as a striker.

The 23-year-old said: "I want to play up front. I got a half up front against Huddersfield and with a bit more luck could have scored a couple of goals.

"I'm happy to play on the right if the boss wants me to play there, even though it's not my preferred position.

"As long as I'm playing I can score from either position which will make me happy.

"It's been very difficult this season with my injury and I've worked very hard to try and get back.

"It's taken time but it's getting better all the time and I can slowly feel I'm getting back to my best. I'm close to being 100 per cent fit."

Arsenal are through to this month's Carling Cup final and the last 16 of the FA Cup and Champions League.

But boss Arsene Wenger says his men must beat Everton tonight if they want to keep their Premier League - and quadruple - dreams alive.

The Gunners are second in the table, five points behind arch-rivals Manchester United.

The Gunners also play the first leg of their Champions League crunch with Barcelona, an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Leyton Orient and take on Birmingham in the Carling Cup final.


Bendtner added: "February is a big month. At the end of it we'll see where we are and, hopefully, it will look good.

"We need to start by beating Everton, who have done well recently so we need to be up for the challenge.

"Luckily, it's a night game and not an early kick-off, as early kick-offs are a killer.

"Every player I speak to prefers night games or 3pm at the earliest.

"There's nothing I hate more than an early kick-off."

Arsenal have told Barcelona that they will have to pay £44 million if they want to sign Cesc Fabregas in the summer.
The will-he-won't-he transfer saga has been ongoing for a few seasons now and Arsenal are believed to have turned down two bids last summer.
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has told the club's hierarchy that he still wants the Gunners captain, but the Catalan giants are set to ditch plans to sign the 23-year-old because they see the asking price, which equates to £44m, as being too high.
"Barca is not disposed to pay €50m for Cesc Fabregas next summer," Barcelona president Sandro Rosell is quoted as saying in The Guardian.
"That is decided and, although Guardiola demands this player, we will not pay this amount.
"It is impossible due to a simple reason. In football, prices are reduced each year and, if we offered Arsenal €40m for Cesc last summer, €50m is now impossible.
"If the coach demands Cesc we will negotiate with the Gunners but at a correct limit and without madness and, if the operation is not possible, we will wait for other opportunities."
Rosell added that the relationship between the two clubs had become strained because Arsenal recently recruited a youngster, Jon Miguel Toral, from the Barcelona academy.
"Our relationship with Arsenal is not good – the Toral issue has not pleased us," he said.
"The future of Cesc is in his hands and we could only negotiate with Arsenal if Guardiola insists. Only with any sale is it possible to increase the money for the negotiations.”

Q: buenas tardes soy homosexualisto interviewer with no brain Jorikus El Kardan, cómo van las negociaciones con Barca?
Vasilachi: una polla enorme, pero no Cesc! (o p*la voua gigantica da nu Cesc!)