As I look upon pictures of the magnificent Emirates Stadium and consider what a wonderful tribute to Dennis Bergkamp for his 11 years of pristine service my mind spares a thought for Pat.
The first time I saw Vieira was in his first appearance for Arsenal. We were a very different club then from the one we are today. The team had little in attack, less in midfield, but a defence that has gone down in history as the best.
Enter a tall gangly player that NO ONE had ever seen or heard of.
By the end of the game I was?gob-smacked. I thought to myself, if we can get another 3 Pat?s we will be an incredible team. From memory I think he played in 3 positions in that game ? midfield, fullback and centreback. And he looked totally in command in each ? no bull!
Yet on the weekend, if Vieira comes back to play in the testimonial for Dennis at The Emirates his mind will be a tumble dryer of competing emotions and thoughts.
?He could have been the captain leading Arsenal into this awesome new arena, instead his friend will
?He chose a club that looked ?more competitive??.now it has been deemed corrupt, relegated, docked points, stripped of honours, and its parts are being hocked off to the highest bidder
?He doesn?t know where he will be playing this coming season?.his ex-team mates will proudly walk into a new era
?He chose a club with real Champions League aspirations?.his ex-team mates dumped them out of that very competition
?He could have had a testimonial at The Emirates, now he probably won?t get one at all
Sure Pat is likely to be picked up by a major competitive club?.he is still a class act. But when reflecting on Bergkamp?s noble end to an outstanding career we see the benefits of staying loyal to an excellent club. I have no doubt whatsoever that Vieira, Pires, and Campbell could have enjoyed a similar conclusion to their careers if they had chosen differently.
Loyalty may be a commodity in very short supply in football?.but when it is well placed it still produces the sweetest taste.
Thanks Dennis.
8 Responses to “The sweetest taste”
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July 21st, 2006 at 8:06 am
Indeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCEXkik6Iuk&search=dennis%20bergkamp
July 21st, 2006 at 9:13 am
Are you kidding? Vieira, no doubt, is going to lose his mind as soon as he steps into the arena and even more when he steps on to the pitch.
To see all of his old teammates, that majestic new stadium, and to hear all of the fans singing is going to be mindblowing without a doubt. He would have played with everyone that plays with the Arsenal in the second half but he’ll be one of only a few player that are still acitve, including Bobby, and van Bronkhorst.
Vieira was Wenger’s first signing and it’ll be a shame as he certainly deserves his own testimonial. I think when Dennis comes off it will be a fitting tribute to hand the captains armband to Vieira, if they use those in testimonials (watch the crowd go nuts). It’ll be a fine farewell to my two favorite players ever, as we never formally gave a farewell to Paddy, but tomorrow is all about Dennis.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:22 am
It should be a great day for Dennis.
Vieira will be there. So will Ian Wright.
Apparently… some bloke Gerard might know will be there as well? Johnny Cruff or something??!!!?!
ha!
Fantastic for Dennis. He’s a class act. I hope the supporters send him out with thunderous applause that he deserves.
July 21st, 2006 at 11:21 am
I became a Gunner because of Dennis Bergkamp. Bergkamp?s playing style is fashioned after his mentor J. Cruyff, it?s only logical Cruyff should be there.
I have never tired of watching Bergkamp, when he played great football I felt good, when things didn?t go well I cringed with him. I admired his own loyalty to our club setting a precedent that Henry could follow. The guy is definitely ?old school? in terms of ?kissing the crest?, unlike the many that play the game today. He became the second richest player in the UK playing for Arsenal with assets nearing 61 million; it?s not as if he wasn?t rewarded financially. He?s still been a great role model and an excellent talent proving it?s not all about the cash.
He?s always been a shinning star to me; I?ll miss seeing him in red and white and of course Oranje.
It?s only fitting that Patrick be there, as they comprised the team for so long. I regret he didn?t have the same send off, maybe all the years of preseason transfer talks with Real has caused me to feel a little more distant to him. That said, I know how much Arsenal owe to him and he is most definitely one of the greatest players to ever dawn a Gunner or French jersey. It is sad that fate would have him at Juve just now, as he deserves better. He to will always be a Gunner to me.
July 21st, 2006 at 12:41 pm
http://www.davejunia.com/files/Bergkamp%20-%20A%20Tribute.jpg
A tribute to my favourite player’s loyalty to Arsenal. Thank you DB10 for the wonderful 11 years.
July 22nd, 2006 at 1:49 am
I started supporting Arsenal because of Dennis Bergkamp. Ever since seeing him for the first time in Holland’s loss to Denmark in the Euro92 semi-final, I have been a big fan of Dennis. But during those days, we didn’t get any club football on TV. So I could only watch him at USA94 and Euro96.
In France98, he had a great tournament culminating in the greatest international goal I have ever seen (yes, I think it’s better than Maradona’s goal against England in Mexico86). The following season, ESPN started showing the EPL in my part of the world.
I knew that Bergkamp played for Arsenal, but had no idea that they were league champions in the 97-98 season. Before EPL came on TV, there was only one club in England - ManU. I instantly started following Arsenal and haven’t stopped ever since.
Thanks Dennis for all the memories and making me an Arsenal fan.
July 22nd, 2006 at 6:24 am
With Berkgamp,we are not just talking about a GREAT player. I can only associate him with one word - CLASS! Be it his pass, his touch, at time I felt like it was watching a artiest on the pitch. Probably the most elegant player we ever seen.
Most importantly, off the pitch as well, he’s CLASSY. Dennis never went over the top on anything, never made a fuss out of anything. He’s just low key, down to earth, and CLASSY.
July 22nd, 2006 at 11:10 am
I’ve reading many of the dedications pouring out around the world for Dennis. This morning I actually felt a little welling of emotion, you know I felt “verklemp” or what ever Mike Myers calls it. It dawned on me how much I’m going to miss DB10 so much so I think we should retire his number.