Arsene Wenger’s men are facing up to life outside the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after last season’s disappointing fifth place finish in the Premier League.
It means the Gunners will find out today who they could face in Europe’s secondary competition, and that includes a reunion with their former marksman Bendtner.
The Dane never quite lived up to the hype while in North London but has found a new lease of life with current club Rosenborg.
And the 29-year-old showed his class finishing off a stunning move by the Norwegian side against Ajax last night (August 24).
The ball is worked out wide before a cross comes in with Bendtner – nicknamed The Lord by his fans – lurking at the far post.
He is on hand to emphatically head the ball home and open the scoring for the home side.
Rosenborg won 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate to qualify for the Europa League group stage.
And Arsenal fans fear fate might throw them into the same group.
“Likelihood we draw Rosenborg and The Lord scores a hat trick in the Emirates?” wrote one supporter.
Another added: “Lord have mercy, hear our prayer.”
And a third said: “Finding out the hard way that Bendtner is actually a pretty good footballer.”
Arsenal and Rosenborg will be joined by Everton in the draw, which takes place at midday today (August 25), after they dumped out Hajduk Split in their qualifier.
Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a 40-yard stunner on his full debut for the Toffees, who drew 1-1 on the night but won 3-1 on aggregate.
There were fears the game could descend into chaos after hardcore Split fans had issued death threats following crowd trouble at Goodison Park last week.
One Everton fan needed hospital treatment prior to the game after running into some Split supporters but the game passed without incident.
