Nicklas Bendtner has revealed how, then as a 16-year-old, he told Arsenal legend Thierry Henry to ‘shut up’ during a heated training ground exchange.

The Dane joined the Gunners from Copenhagen side Kjobenhavns Boldklub in 2004.

Bendtner writes in his autobiography ‘Both Sides’ as reported by The Guardian: ‘In May 2005 I am able to sum up my first year in an Arsenal shirt. Since Liam Brady threatened to cancel my contract I have made big strides forward.

‘I have scored 12 goals in 18 games for the Under 18s and five goals for the reserves. Increasingly I am training with the first team every week and sometimes I forget that I am just on trial with the big boys.

‘During one session we are playing 11 v 11 with a maximum of two touches at a time. I am standing in a position to see Thierry Henry touching it three times. “Three touches,” I shout. Wenger’s assistant, Pat Rice, shouts back: “Play on, for f**k’s sake!”

‘But Henry has heard me. He turns in my direction and puts his finger over his lips: “Sssssssh.” Shortly afterwards I do the same. The ball touches my heel, and then my toe before I pass it on. It is one movement but the academy player gets a free-kick against him. Of course I do. I don’t think. I just start complaining, big time. I say it should be the same for everyone.

‘Henry tells me to shut up, this time with a lot of swear words included. And in hindsight it is good advice. But I am not taking it on. I shout back that he is the one who should shut up. He runs in my direction, confronts me, yells into my face, says all kinds of things. He totally ignores the fact that the game is going on around us.’

The incident also saw Cole and Campbell take a swipe at Bendtner for ‘running his mouth’ during the verbal clash with Henry.