TAKING OFF: Bendtner was handed his first Arsenal start since March 2011, and he made an immediate impact by opening the scoring in the second minute. Photo: AFP
The Denmark international, recalled by manager Arsene Wenger to give leading striker Olivier Giroud a rest, headed the hosts in front inside two minutes — Bendtner's first Arsenal goal since March 2011.
Arsenal went on to win 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium and the Gunners remain four points clear at the top of the table.
Bendtner faced an uncertain Arsenal future after several loan spells at other clubs.
"It was a fantastic feeling, I think my celebration for the goal was a show of that," said the 25-year-old.
"It was my first Premier League game this season, so I am pleased to have scored and that we won.”
Arsenal are at home to Everton on Sunday, then travel to Napoli for their final Champions League group match before facing Manchester City a week on Saturday.
"We are very much looking forward to it because we know this is a very hard period coming up and we need everybody to be focused and sharp, but we will take just one game at a time and try to put the points on the table," said Bendtner.
Moyes bullish as United's title hopes fade
Manchester United manager David Moyes maintains that his side can still win the Premier League despite slipping 12 points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Old Trafford side suffered a fourth defeat of the season when they were stunned 1-0 at home by his former club Everton on Wednesday.
The champions are now ninth in the table and are as close to the relegation zone as they are to the summit.
United only lost five league games in the whole of last season, but even though Moyes accepts it will be a struggle, he insists his team should not be ruled out.
"We have got a long way to go," he said. "We will need to play some great football and win an awful lot of games in the run-in if we are going to be in there and around it at the end of the season."
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said that Luis Suarez still had his best years ahead of him after his four goals inspired a 5-1 demolition of Norwich City at Anfield.
The Uruguay international needed just 35 first-half minutes to smash a spectacular hat-trick in Wednesday's game, with his third goal marking his 50th Premier League strike.
He added his fourth goal with a stunning 74th-minute free-kick as Liverpool rampaged back to form.
"This is the happiest Luis has been at this club," said Rodgers. “Anfield is a hand-and-glove fit for him."
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