Remembering one of Arsenal’s best ever playeers, Dennis Bergkamp by TRJ
There have been a few articles today commemorating the 20th anniversary of DB10’s arrival at Arsenal. I remember clearly being in denial – that this was some kind of cruel prank…it wasn’t just Dennis but it was the Double D – Dennis and David (Bergkamp and Platt)!
What the hell was going on!
We had just concluded the most horrible seasons in memory. There was the George Graham affair and Paul Merson’s admission to an addiction to booze. The football was uninspiring, we finished 12th in the table and we lost the European Cup Winners Cup to Real Zaragoza in the final moments of extra time.
…and then in the close season, Bruce Rioch is appointed as manager and suddenly we have these two genuine super-stars at the Arsenal! Wow! Something was being done and changes were afoot. As we are led to understand, a certain Arsene Wenger (then at Monaco) had advised his good friend David Dein to bring Bergkamp to Arsenal.
24 hours after Rioch was sacked (for failing to communicate effectively with the board) Remi Garde and Patrick Vieira were on their way to Arsenal, and with Arsene negotiating his exit from Japan to join the Gunners.
But there was the Bergkamp years! We changed and Arsene built a team around this man. Everything changed. Nutrition, fitness, the game plan, etc. If there was water-shed moment for Arsenal…this was it. What you see today…it started then. Rioch started it..Wenger took it to another level.
In my mind, the player who has most affected Arsenal in a positive way…Dennis Bergkamp.
The maestro Dennis!
The legend! Cannot be forgotten….
Plus a few more if you missed that!—–
We WILL be as good as his team very very soon!