Sunderland manager Steve Bruce finally got his man when he clinched a season-long loan deal for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner. The 23-year-old has clinched a temporary move after being told he was not part of Arsene Wenger's plans.

The deal re-unites a player and a manager who worked together during their time at Birmingham City. "I've had the privilege of working with Nicklas previously," Bruce said. "I had him as an 18 year-old and he helped clinch promotion for Birmingham.

"He's an outstanding talent and is a big, physical presence who will lead the line magnificently for us."

He's an outstanding talent and is a big, physical presence who will lead the line magnificently for us.
Steve Bruce, Sunderland manager

Bendtner is the third frontman to arrive at the club this summer following the captures of youngsters Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-won, who Bruce believes will be big players for the club in the years to come.

However, he was keen to recruit more experience after seeing his side score just once in the opening four games of the Premier League season, a run which has seen them draw with Liverpool and Swansea and lose to arch-rivals Newcastle United as well as npower Championship Brighton in the Carling Cup.

Bendtner made his Gunners debut as a teenager against the Black Cats in a League Cup tie in 2005, but has struggled to command a regular place in the starting line-up at the Emirates Stadium. He has won 38 senior caps for Denmark and scored 12 goals.

Bendtner becomes Sunderland's 11th summer signing with the previous ten all having arrived on permanent deals.