The 26-year-old believes his loan spell with Juventus “went well” and has criticised Arsene Wenger’s decision not to let him move clubs last summer

Nicklas Bendtner has criticised Arsenal after claiming that his final season at the club was a “waste of a year”.

The 26-year-old made just 12 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side last term before leaving on a free transfer in the summer.

Bendtner was loaned out to Juventus in August 2012 but failed to score during his time with the Serie A champions after his campaign was disrupted by a thigh injury.

Bendtner returned to Arsenal last summer after Juve opted not to make the loan move permanent but was close to joining Crystal Palace before Wenger opted to keep the Denmark international at the Emirates Stadium.

“I was loaned to Juve. It went well there. I played regularly, and I was fit. Then I got injured, had to miss the next six months,” Bendtner told Bild.

“We were champions, I wanted to stay. But Arsenal took me back. I wasted a year there. That annoys me the most.”

Bendtner completed a move to Wolfsburg earlier this summer but has not secured a starting place in the club’s opening three Bundesliga games.

“Wolfsburg is obviously different. But it’s not bad here. And if I want a larger city, one is by train in an hour in Berlin. There I have many friends,” said the striker.

“I miss my son. If I have a day off, I will always try to travel to London to spend time with him. London is my city, I lived there since I was 16.

“Of course, I also miss my friends. But the VfL is my new beginning. The important thing now is football. Life comes afterwards.”