Clubs: Arsenal FC, Birmingham City FC (loan), Sunderland AFC (loan)

• Made his debut for Arsenal in October 2005 in a League Cup tie against Sunderland; spent the whole of the following season on loan to Birmingham, helping the Blues win promotion to the Premier League with 11 league goals in 42 games.

• After representing Denmark at the age of 18 in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Portugal, he scored on his senior debut in August of that year against Poland.

• Returned to Arsenal for the start of 2007/08, having recently signed a five-year contract, and scored his first Premier League goal − against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC − three days before Christmas.

• Struck the Gunners' first goal of the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League group stage − against R. Standard de Liège − and though he missed the remaining five games through injury, he hit a hat-trick in a 5-0 defeat of FC Porto in the round of 16.

• Registered three times in Denmark's successful FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, including one in each game against group runners-up Portugal, and was also on target at the finals as his side overcame Cameroon 2-1.

• Moved on loan for a second time when he joined Sunderland − then managed by Steve Bruce, the man he played under at Birmingham − in August 2011.