Nicklas Bendtner scores 10 out of 9 in confidence test
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The Danish forward, 23, reportedly scored an unprecedented 10 out of 9 in a self-confidence category during a series of mental performance evaluations conducted by Arsenal.
The result, disclosed by respected sports psychologist Jacques Crevoisier, has quickly become a talking point across European football.
A score that raised eyebrows - and laughter
Crevoisier, speaking to Swedish magazine Offside, explained that one section of the test measured "self perceived competence" - essentially how highly players rate their own abilities.On a scale up to nine, Bendtner got ten!The revelation may not come as a complete surprise to Arsenal supporters.
We have never seen that before. [Assistant manager] Pat Rice was sitting next to me and couldn't stop laughing.
Bendtner has built a reputation for bold public statements, including his assertion earlier this season that he should always be in the starting line-up when fully fit.
He also made headlines during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, confidently predicting he would finish as the tournament's Golden Boot winner.
Confidence or arrogance?
Bendtner's self-belief has frequently divided opinion.Critics have labelled it arrogance, whilst others argue that such mentality is essential at the highest level of professional sport.
Crevoisier suggested there are both positives and drawbacks to extreme confidence.
When Bendtner misses a chance, he is always genuinely convinced that it wasn't his fault. You might say that's a problem, and to a certain degree it can be.
But you can also view it as this guy has an remarkably ability to come back after setbacks.
Inside Arsenal's psychological testing
Arsenal's psychological profiling system consists of 117 questions designed to measure attributes such as concentration, determination, emotional control and self-belief.The club have increasingly invested in mental performance analysis as part of their player development strategy.
Crevoisier, who has worked extensively with young players at France's famed Clairefontaine academy, oversees aspects of the evaluation process.
Modern football clubs are placing greater emphasis on psychological resilience, recognising that elite performance is shaped as much by mindset as by technical skill.
A trait that can shape careers
Whilst Bendtner's confidence has occasionally attracted ridicule, history shows that many top-level athletes possess similarly unwavering self-belief.Forwards, in particular, often rely on short memory and mental toughness to overcome missed opportunities.
Whether Bendtner's extraordinary test score proves beneficial or problematic remains to be seen.
What is clear, however, is that few players in European football rate themselves more highly.
And if nothing else, Bendtner's latest headline ensures one thing - the spotlight remains firmly fixed on him.
