David Bentley

David Bentley has reportedly asked to leave Arsenal as he looks for a club that can offer him regular first team football.

The England Under-21 star has been a promising talent at Highbury ever since drawing comparisons with Dennis Bergkamp as he scored an exquisite lob against Middlesbrough in the 2004 FA Cup.

To further his progression the winger spent last season on loan at Norwich although The Canaries were prevented from seeing the best of the 20-year-old due to injury.

Bentley has always been impatient to break into Arsene Wenger's plans and looked to be growing in stature as he featured prominently in The Gunners' pre-season tour to Austria and the victorious Amsterdam Tournament campaign.

However, the arrival of Belarus international Alexander Hleb has provided yet another obstacle for the Englishman to overcome, and he failed to even make the substitutes bench in the Community Shield defeat to Chelsea.

Bentley had then been expected to captain Arsenal's reserves against West Ham on Monday, although the gifted youngster was withdrawn before kick-off.

After apparently failing to enhance his standing in Wenger's eyes, Bentley has now reputedly handed in a transfer request in an attempt to end his time at Highbury.

Both Norwich and Crystal Palace have been linked with an ambitious attempt to secure Bentley's services on a season-long loan deal, although Premiership outfit West Ham have been rumoured to be interested in clinching a permanent deal

Posted By: Dan The NCFC Man, Aug 12, 13:42:57