I have read a report lately - Dennis Bergkamp revealed his regret that he may not be able to play in Arsenal’s new stadium next season as he’s been pondering to retire by the end of the season.
I’m sure it’s regret shared by many Arsenal fans as well. Since the departure of Vieira, Berkgamp was our lone longest servicing player in the club right now. 10 years. With today’s football climate, EU, Bosman, and greedy football agents, it’s rarely for an English player to stay with a same club for a decade, let alone an oversea player, particular a high-profile player like Dennis.
To mark the club and the fans’ appreication to Dennis, for his tremendous contribution to our club’s success in the past decade, I have a suggestion - how about handing Berkgamp a testimonial match (which he fully deserved) not by the end of this season, but at the beginning of next season?
The new stadium not only signatures Arsenal FC’s ambition as a succesful football club, but it also represents a new chapter of the club’s history. So it would be appropriate to have a meaningful match as the stadium opener. To arrange a Dennis Berkgamp testimonial not only marks a closing chapter for the glorious past of Arsenal FC with one of its truely greats, but also allowing Bergkamp an opportunity to play in a brand new, state-of-art stadium which, in part, he had done his part to help making it materialized.
20 Responses to “New stadium opener - Bergkamp testimonal”
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September 10th, 2005 at 9:01 pm
I have been a Bergy fan since 1990 when he was in Ajax. I would love see him play another season. Would be great too.
I think this a good idea. Bergy is a loved all over by the gunners fan. Would be a good idea to let him play a game or 2 in the Emirates Stadume.
I hope Arsenal Board would see this request.
September 10th, 2005 at 9:13 pm
Dennis is loved by all Arsenal supporters, but it seemed like he was fortunate to get this season in. When last season ended, we all thought it was certain that they would give him another year, but it looked like they weren’t going to grant his (or our) request, thank God it did happen. It would be great to see him to play at least ONE game at the new stadium, but I think the chances of that are slim to none. He would have to do a lot for the board or who ever to give him another 1 year contract.
September 10th, 2005 at 9:55 pm
I’d rather have his LAST GAME, his testimonial CLOSE HIGHBURY.
That way Vieira could play in it… and he could be there for the closing of the stadium as well.
September 11th, 2005 at 5:57 am
or they could always stage the 1st half of any testimonial game for Dennis at Highbury then everyone could take a stroll over to the new stadium for the 2nd half.
September 11th, 2005 at 7:32 am
As a nature of the man himself, I believe Dennis Bergkamp’s contribution towards Arsenal, and the Premiership, is often understated.
I was suprised when Bergkamp decided to sign with us back in the mid 90s. He was at the prime of his career. Arsenal were hardly a world beater filled with world-class players. And the Premiership was still at the early stage, the majority of the foreign imports were either the over-the-hill ex-big name stars, or cheap oversea imports. Dennis Bergkamp were among one of the first true world-class players at his prime joining Arsenal and the Premiership.
One of the pioneers which opened the door for more top notch foreign talents coming to the Premiership.
Consider Berkgamp was a self-confessed Spurs fan (and a big fan of Spurs lengend Glenn Hoddle), his decision on joining Arsenal was even more shocking.
At times I wonder, had Berkgamp not already been at Arsenal, would Arsene Wenger decide to join Arsenal later on? Consider back then, apart from Dennis, our BIGGEST names in the squad were only an ageing Ian Wright, Tony Adams, David Seaman, David Platt; not exactly a mouth-watering prospect for a screwd manager like Wenger. And it’s fair to say, the next “big name” signing Marc Overmars’ arrival had a few thing to do with his best pal Dennis too.
Arsenal had come a long way to become a team which everybody seemingly expecting us to win every single game, yet let’s not to forget all these happened NOT without a reason and start to take things for granted.
The way i see it - Dennis Berkgamp’s arrival at 1995 had laid the platform for Arsenal FC to build on our future success. He is no longer a player he once was I have to admit, but he’s not a “wash up” like many have suggested, just because we have a poor start of the new season. The team, as a whole, have lost a little bit of belief in themselves, and it’s clearly evidented in our defeat to Boro. To laid the blame on one or two single players are very unfair in my opinion. Without the likes of Berkamp and Pires, we would probably still have been playing the second-best to Man Utd season after season the past few years, just like we did before the double-winning season of 2002. If only after a few disappointing performance they were already labelled as “wash up”, how we have the nerve to ask the LOYALTY from our players?
September 11th, 2005 at 9:29 am
Wow!
I thought I was the ONLY one to think of that… but the logistics would be a nightmare!
How do the fans go from one site to the other?!
September 11th, 2005 at 9:34 am
So Dennis is in the PRIME of his career, and we actually sign the man. Already a star. Already a proven talent.
Sounds like an absolutely BRILLIANT MOVE to me.
He has gone on to be, arguably the best Arsenal player EVER.
I just wish Wenger would go out and buy ANOTHER PROVEN STAR like Bergy. But everybody defends his non-actions.
Take a look at Bergkamp. Tell me buying a proven star hasn’t worked out for us. You are CORRECT. Perhaps without Dennis coming here, we would NEVER have reached the heights we have… and others might not have followed.
September 11th, 2005 at 9:40 am
Rumor out there that Arsenal and Wenger will battle ManU for the signing of Michael Ballack.
Proven star in the middle of the park. I’d like to think this is a Dennis Bergkamp-like signing (attempt).
It is PAINFULLY apparent that we need this player.
The problem is, by January, we might be 20 points behind Chelsea, and out of the CL.
GET MICHAEL BALLACK Mr.Wenger.
Do whatever it takes.
September 11th, 2005 at 9:54 am
Can I have some of what you drinking
September 11th, 2005 at 9:59 am
Have faith. Chelsea will slow down somehow sometime during the season.
Arsenal can’t afford Micheal Ballack. We will buy some unknown player with that money. Time will tell.
September 11th, 2005 at 10:06 am
I don’t want an unknown player.
We don’t need an unknown player.
We have about 6 of those in the team now, and the are doing F-ALL.
September 11th, 2005 at 10:09 am
So…
a little bit of math, as I look at last season’s tables.
We would need to win like… 30 matches out of the last 34 to get near Chelsea’s point total of last season…
I think we can all agree that this is not even a remote possibility…
the title race is over 4 games in.
I think Chelsea are even better this season than last. They lost 1 match, and then went out and improved themselves.
Lets hope we don’t get too far out of that 4th place position.
September 11th, 2005 at 10:24 am
Michael Ballack is a great player but i believe on the decline. He is what we need in a younger version, but not as young as Cesc and Fabregas…I think Ballack might be good for another year or two…The name I keep hearing is Pablo Mascherano who supposedly shunned us 2 years ago. Also, Vincent Kompany as Centre Back…
September 11th, 2005 at 11:21 am
The Club could teleport them all there. State-of-the art technology for a brand new state-of-the-art stadium.
September 11th, 2005 at 11:31 am
Bergkamp was having a miserable time at Inter Milan. Agreed he was getting on good with the national team but at club level, it was awful for him.
Injuries kept him out and even when he played, he didn’t do much. Didn’t create much and I think only scored 3 goals or something like that (maybe in one season or overall?). I was happy to see him go to Arsenal but had no idea he would have had such impact.
Like I have said before, I can’t imagine how different things might have been for us if he flew to away games. Speaking of his flying, if Arsenal had made the CL final in Turkey last year, would Bergkamp not have gone? It is a long train/boat ride to Turkey.
Anyway, I like the idea of him having his testimonial in the new stadium. If it were not for Bergkamp’s spark, Arsenal would not have reached the heights they did in the last 7-8 years or so. And if they had not done so well, well this stadium deal would not have happenned.
I just wonder who is going to be the spark now who will lift us again? One last tango from Bergkamp?
September 11th, 2005 at 11:38 am
Vieira scored with a header from a corner today. An ex-arsenal player scoring from a set-piece?
Argh.
September 11th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
Stag, I give you one name that i’m sure you would agree is a proven talent: Fernando Morientes. If Arsenal had bought him last January you would have been delighted. Turns out he can’t hit a barn door in english football.
September 11th, 2005 at 7:28 pm
Perhaps, but I could have pointed to him and said, Ah yes… WE TRIED to get better. Proven player. It didn’t work out. Oh well.
Better to have tried and failed, than never to have tried at all.
I hope that 14 Million we got for Paddy is doing splendidly in the bank.
September 11th, 2005 at 11:23 pm
I meant Javier Macherano
September 12th, 2005 at 2:57 pm
So Wenger, against his better judgement and after all the great players he’s created, should sign players whether he thinks they’re right or not so he can say he tried? He would have been shot had we been able to afford the bullets.
Trying also includes research, Stag, and emplying one’s intuition, and spending time with what you’ve got and showing them faith. Its not always right, but than again, red flags are cheaper than long-shots.
Dude, haven’t you grown even the teeniest bit tired of jumping up and down on Wenger for what you THINK he did or didn’t do? Wenger and the lads need the most passionate among us right now. And before anyone thinks its foolish to suggest that our little site doesn’t make a difference, allow me to remind you of some of Ashley’s statements during his trial. They’re on the internet like the rest of us.
Confidence is a powerful thing. Chelsea are so full of it that they can play like planks and squeak by on it. I’m not saying we should stop analyzing things the way we see them, but…
…eh, you know what I’m saying.