STEVE Bruce was left to lament the impact of Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner after he returned to haunt his former manager in Hull City's 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.
Having taken him on loan spells at Birmingham and then at Sunderland, the Denmark striker scored his first Arsenal goal since March 2011 as the Gunners maintained their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
The 25-year-old was recalled to the starting XI to give leading forward Olivier Giroud a rest, and headed the hosts in front against Hull Cityinside two minutes.
Mesut Ozil extended Arsenal's lead at the start of the second half, finishing off a fine passing exchange with Aaron Ramsey.
Bendtner's last league start for Arsenal came three seasons ago and he almost left the club in the summer following several unsuccessful loan spells and hitting the headlines with his off-field behaviour.
But Bruce knows what he can do more than most said: "He is a good football player for the size of him. I hope that sooner or later he really knuckles down and really makes a go of his career because he's a very, very good player, but the mentality of Nicklas is always what everybody questions.
"He's a big, strong, powerful centre-forward who's good in the air and has good feet for the size of him. He's got the lot really, if he wants it - but there's always a 'but'.
"Did we try to sign him in the summer? We were having a look, but the level of salary was always going to be a problem for us.
"Nicklas is a good boy, he has always done well for me and it was Sod's Law he would do that against us today.
"When was the last time he scored? It was for me (at Sunderland) wasn't it? Well, there you go."
