A certain Dutch striker, wearing the number 10 shirt for the Gunners. Scorer of mesmeric goals, with an incredible first touch and the ability to set up his teammates from any kind of situation on the pitch. No, I’m not talking about Robin van Persie; I’m talking about arguably the most underrated Dutch forward in history, Dennis Bergkamp.
Dennis Bergkamp joined Arsenal for a then record fee of £7.5M from Inter Milan, becoming manager Bruce Rioch’s first signing as manager. He was underwhelming in Italy, spending two seasons at the San Siro and disappointing many fans. During his stay at the Italian club, which he joined ahead of Juventus and Real Madrid after Cruyff had advised his against a move to the Spanish side, the club changed managers 3 times, were taken over by Massimo Moratti, won the UEFA Cup and finished one point off relegation. Bergkamp never settled into a position often playing wide in a 3 and then in the second season suffered injuries and fatigue after his participation at the World Cup during the summer.
When Arsenal came to his rescue, he seemed in need of rejuvenation. A wide-man turned striker who had scored 103 goals in 185 games during his time at first club Ajax had fallen out of love with the game. Arsenal gave him that love back. His transfer was seen as significant as he was an established international players, seemingly with his best years ahead of him (remind yöu öf anyöne?) Bergkamp’s adaptation to the English game took a while and he scored 11 in 33 in his opening season at the club. Arsene Wenger’s arrival marked a change in Bergkamp.
He became the fulcrum of Arsenal’s attacks. Fluid passing football and a strict fitness/diet program fitted in perfectly with “non-flying Dutchman” and he duly delivered with his world-class talents. During his third season, in which Arsenal won the double, he was their top goalscorer with 22 goals and scored what Martin O’Neill described as “the best hat-trick I’ve ever seen” against Leicester City. When Thierry Henry joined, Wenger sacrificed Berkamp’s goals for his creativity and skill, making him a second striker to the Frenchman who went on to become Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer.
In an era where players like Zidane, Edgar Davids, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo are remembered for their magnificent skill and trickery, Bergkamp isn’t mentioned in that category. That’s a crime in itself. Bergkamp is the scorer of my favourite ever goal, as well as two goals that are classed as some of the best ever, vs Argentina and Leicester.
Robert Pires played a low pass in Bergkamp. With his back to goal and being marked tightly by Newcastle’s Greek defender Nikos Dabizas, Bergkamp flicked the ball with one touch around Dabizas, ran around him in the opposite direction before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Effortless. Wenger described it as “unbelievable”. To this day (I’m 21!) I still try to re-enact that goal in my garden and can’t do the flick.
A three time Premier League winner, four time FA Cup winner, three time 3rd place in the World Player of the Year, the only Duthcman in England’s football hall of fame and a member of Pele’s FIFA 100 list no wonder Jack Wilshere said upon taking the vacant #10 shirt, “It has a special place for all attacking or creative players. I feel proud to wear it now after some real club legends have worn it, such as Dennis Bergkamp.”
Bergkamp was a genuine magician on the football pitch. A statue in his honour is more than fitting, to a man who sparked a change in success and style of football in Arsenal’s history. He’s spoken many times about possibly becoming Arsenal manager once Wenger leaves and has taken steps to do so by currently being assistant to Frank de Boer at Ajax. Bergkamp will rightly go down in Arsenal’s history as one of their all-time greats, I’m just happy I got to witness him live.
—
Thanks to @UKILFC for the stunning picture to which we edited.
