'Arsenal boss fined me two weeks' wages after night out where my drink got spiked'

Nicklas Bendtner was docked wages by Arsene Wenger (Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Nicklas Bendtner was once fined two weeks' wages by Arsene Wenger following a night out where his drink was allegedly spiked.

The 'Lord' emerged through the Arsenal youth ranks as an exciting talent in 2005, but caused uproar four years later while leaving a London nightclub. Tensions were already running high in north London after Arsenal had been knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals by Manchester United.

And when Bendtner was seen leaving a club at 4am with his trousers around his ankles, Wenger was especially displeased. In his autobiography, Both Sides, the Dane claimed that he was targeted by women who would attempt to sleep with him, and subsequently, blackmail him with proof of their liaisons.

The now 37-year-old also maintained that he was spiked on one specific evening. He wrote: "After hanging out in the bar area, one of the totally aggressive gold-diggers came over.

"I began chatting at random, and from then it didn't take many seconds before we disappeared off towards the toilets. Here we must apparently have done the deed.

"Or at least we tried to. Then I passed out, and no one, not my mate or my Danish girl, can get hold of me. When Boujis closes, an hour passes while they try to get through to me.

"I stagger as I'm escorted out to my taxi. Someone had put something in my glass. They call it 'spiking'. That has to be the explanation. Wenger isn't happy, and for the second season, he fines me two weeks' wages."

Nicklas Bendtner broke through the Arsenal youth system (Image: Getty Images)

Wenger's response to the incident exemplifies the firm approach he adopted during his 22-year tenure at Arsenal. The club's 'Invincibles' Premier League-winning campaign was also largely attributed to Wenger's methodology and the principles he instilled in his squad.

Despite netting 47 goals in 171 appearances for the Gunners, Bendtner spent a significant part of his Arsenal career on loan at Birmingham City, Sunderland and Juventus, before transferring to VfL Wolfsburg in 2014. After a two-year spell in the Bundesliga, the striker returned to England with Nottingham Forest, scoring twice in 17 matches before moving again, this time to Rosenborg.

Just two years later, Bendtner secured a move to Copenhagen in his home country of Denmark, only to be released less than a year later. He announced his retirement from football in June 2021.

Nicklas Bendtner played for Arsenal 171 times (Image: 2008 Getty Images)

Even though he's no longer playing, Bendtner will undoubtedly be watching Arsenal's match against Nottingham Forest at 12.30pm on Saturday, having represented both clubs previously. Mikel Arteta will be hoping that the 2025/26 season will see the Gunners shine in the Premier League following consecutive second-place finishes in the last two seasons.

After a promising start to their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United and a 5-0 demolition of newly-promoted Leeds, Arsenal will be keen to bounce back from their recent 1-0 defeat to reigning champions Liverpool before the international break. On the other hand, Forest, under the guidance of new manager Ange Postecoglou, will be aiming for more consistent performances.

Forest started the season on a high note with a 3-1 triumph over Brentford, followed by a 1-1 draw against Community Shield winners Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. However, a 3-0 drubbing by a struggling West Ham United side leaves room for improvement as they prepare to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.