Former Arsenal footballer Nicklas Bendtner narrowly avoided becoming the victim of a knife attack in New York, an incident that left one of his friends seriously injured. Disturbing CCTV footage captured the moments leading up to the assault.

The chaotic scene unfolded last Thursday on Manhattan's Upper West Side when an assailant, dressed casually in a T-shirt and shorts, charged towards Bendtner and his group brandishing a knife before fleeing shortly afterwards. According to local media, 25-year-old Joshua Zinberg was apprehended the following day and now faces charges of attempted murder and assault.

In a startling twist, it was Zinberg’s own mother who handed him over to the authorities. Bendtner, who scored 45 goals in 171 appearances during his nine-year tenure at Arsenal, confirmed his presence in the shocking footage to Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet, saying: "Yes, I can confirm that it is me in the video."

He added: "Could it have been me who was attacked? I have no comment about that. But I can confirm that it’s me on the video – it’s hard to run away from."

The incident resulted in injuries to a 55-year-old former professional footballer, who was treated at Mount Sinai Hospital for facial wounds.

New York Mayor Eric Adams addressed the troubling event, attributing it to deeper societal issues. "We walk past people every day who we know lack the ability to make the right decisions to take care of themselves," he said. "This is a problem that began when we closed psychiatric facilities many years ago without providing the necessary support."

The incident has sparked renewed conversations about public safety and mental health in the city.