Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has been advised to “take a step down” and join a smaller club, by Hamburg sporting director Frank Arnersen.

The Danish forward left the Premier League to join Serie A giants Juventus on a year loan, but has failed to impress, having only started three games with La Vecchia Signora.

Bendtner, who has featured in eight games but is yet to score for 'The Old Lady', turned down Hamburg twice as he was expecting to join a bigger club.

But the Bundesliga side's Sporting Director believes the striker has set his sights too high.

“He must take a step down and choose a good club where he can rediscover the joy of playing and play a lot,” Arnersen told The Daily Mail.

“He said no to me twice because he wanted to play in an even bigger club. He must make sure he is always in the best shape and so he should be more humble and think about how he can get the most out of his talent.”

Hamburg tried to sign Bendtner back in the summer of 2011, before he was loaned to Sunderland. A year after, the Germans struck again but the Danish international eventually joined the Serie A leaders.

Recent reports suggest Hamburg will try for a third time this summer, hoping the offer of first-team football will convince the striker.

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