The Dutch Master

10 May 1969 was a good day for Holland. In footballing terms, I mean. Dennis Bergkamp was born. My papi is an ardent lifetime supporter of the Gunners. Quite simply to most gooners, Dennis is God. God is Dennis. God wears the No. 10 at North London from 1995 to 2006. He is the definitive classic, one of a kind No. 10. When the then manager of Arsenal, Bruce Rioch splashed 7.5 million pounds for Bergkamp in the summer of 1995, it was a coup that was so out-of-the-world for most gooners. Personally, my papi must have thought that the club was finally showing ambitions.

He took awhile to settle and once those goals got underway against Southampton. It was …..uhmm.. wonderful! How can one forget that hat-trick at Filbert Street, that turn against Dabizas from the Toon Army, the World Cup goal against Argentina. Look at Ayala. His final competitive goal, so fittingly, was on Dennis Bergkamp Day against WBA. These are real moments to savour for fans of the Iceman.

For all those past 10-odd seasons, papi must had felt blessed to witness the Iceman. The One who operates behind the main strikers. The link between the midfield and striking line. He is The Shadow Striker, The Lurker and the Great Passer, all rolled into one. The Total Package. The foundation back at Wilskracht was laid well.

His skill element? Astounding, the least. The greatest of deft first touch and the radar-like awareness of where to pass or shoot the ball. Papi is still hoping to see an Arsenal player that can have that much skill and vision as the Iceman. Well, maybe not. He is a Comet in the Sky. Many can lay claim that Henry is the epitome of Arsenal greatness. True in every sense. For papi, Dennis Bergkamp is his football colossus.

Bergkamp was the pivotal man in the transformation of Boring Arsenal to the birth of one the most cosmopolitan and exciting sides in the Premiership. So sad that Wenger’s side fail to capture Europe’s biggest trophy and conquer the continent in Paris, back in 2006. It would have been the best sending-off present for a great Arsenal servant. Even though the Dutch master did not take on the pitch that night against Barcelona, his goal against FC Thun was the decisive moment in their European campaign.

In retrospect, there have been so many great players like Samson, Talbot, Jensen, Sunderland, Caton, Chapman, Quinn, Davis, Lukic, Seaman, Winterburn, Groves, Smith, Thomas, Keown, Linighan, Rocky, O’Leary, Champagne Charlie, Bould, Adams, Wright, Dixon, Limpar, Campbell, Rix, Suker, Woodcock, Mariner, Jennings, Parlour, Schwarz, Hartson, Platt, Helder, Vieira, Merson, Anelka, Petit, Cole, Henry and Adebayor who came and left. However, Bergkamp will stay forever in his memories.