Nicklas Bendtner today warned Barcelona he was back to his best and ready to fire Arsenal to victory in the Nou Camp next week.
The striker warmed up for the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie with a hat-trick in last night's 5-0 FA Cup fifth-round replay victory over Leyton Orient, which set up a quarter-final match at Manchester United on March 12.
But it is the game against Barcelona, which comes three days after Saturday's Premier League clash with Sunderland, that might prove Bendtner's big test. With Robin van Persie out for about four weeks with a knee injury, the Dane is the favourite ahead of Marouane Chamakh to lead the line against the Spanish champions.
Bendtner scored in the Champions League quarter-final in Barcelona last year but the home team responded with four goals to knock Arsenal out.
Having recovered from a long-standing groin injury, the 23-year-old believes he is better equipped than ever to worry the Catalans.
"Can I lead the line against Barcelona? Of course," said Bendtner. "I am now getting back to where I belong and there are still improvements to come.
"To score again there is the dream scenario. We have to take our chances because Barcelona always score when they play at home. I feel that in the last month I have definitely improved. That is due to my injury problems being completely finished.
"Last season I played for a bit when I was half-injured but there was no-one else, so I did my best and got through it. It has taken me a long time to get back where I am but I am pleased with my progress and that I have got back to playing the way I want to play."
