http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyBth5NHD4k (3:20 kills me every time).
So, Dennis Bergkamp, eh? Where do you begin?
A player whose greatness spans decades - generations. My old man, who stood on the North Bank as far back as the fifties says that Dennis is the greatest Arsenal player he's ever seen. Obviously I feel the same. My young nephew (7 now) will no doubt grow up to be a Gooner, but it boggles my mind that he won't have any live memories of Dennis. I look forward to telling him stories of Dennis twenty, thirty, etc. years down the line.
(However, it must be noted that his first Arsenal game was Dennis's testimonial. He was two years old and cried the whole way through. Still, at least he can
technically say he's seen Dennis, Cruyff and Van Basten in the flesh! More than most 7 year-olds can say!)
I do not have the words to express my love for Dennis, so I'll just list some reasons why he will always be completely irreplaceable to me;
- • He was the first signing of the new era of Arsenal
• It quickly became apparent that we had the pride of all English football at The Arsenal (fuck Klinsmann)
• His song. Those Champions League nights when we'd sing his song...
• The skill. Those bendy shots. That hat-trick at Leicester
• In his last few years, he took a pay cut every year to stay with us
• He was the best player in the world at one point. He could have played anywhere. But he didn't want to play anywhere other than The Arsenal
• He was a hard bastard. He would not take shit from anyone
I don't know. I've had a bit to drink tonight and I'm feeling all nostalgic. I love Thierry Henry, but he does not come anywhere,
anywhere near to where I hold Dennis in my esteem.
To the man who made me follow the Dutch national team at France '98 ahead of England, happy birthday! It makes me sick that anyone ever compared RvP to you...