Dennis Bergkamp Testimonial Match - Arsenal v Ajax

LethalMind · 07-22-2006, 04:47 PM

Arsenal supporters will sing “we’ve got Dennis Bergkamp” for the last time on Saturday

The 37-year-old Dutch striker is one of the greatest players to play the game let alone pull on a red and white shirt. So it is fitting that his final match should be a star-studded testimonial game to open Emirates Stadium.

Bergkamp and the new ground have much common. They are both huge in footballing stature, Arsenal to the core and very accommodating. At his final press conference as a professional footballer, Bergkamp seemed touched to have been granted the honour of having the first match.

“It feels right to have a taste of Emirates Stadium,” he said. “It says a lot about the club and the people I have worked with. You see the fans buying tickets and then others saying they can’t get any because they are sold out. When that happens it really comes to your mind that people do appreciate what you have done and they want to pay that back in some sort of way.

“Last season I slowly got into the idea that I was retiring. But this game really will be my last one. You are always going to miss a lot of things: the simple things - the dressing room, the humour then the going into training then there are the big things playing in full stadiums and feeling the pressure.

“I have been playing football as a professional since I was 17 and I joined Ajax when I was 12. So it is 25 years football has been my life. That will end on Saturday afternoon and that will be strange.”

It must be remembered that when Bergkamp broke the mould when he came over here. He was not only a foreign player but a world name. Few of those had been seen in England before he moved from Inter in 1995. Technically excellent, wonderfully wise and deadly in the penalty area, the discipline and commitment that made him exceptional has now become the rule for any ambitious English footballer. He also helped change 'boring, boring Arsenal' into one of the most attractive sides in Europe. But he is quick to give others credit for that as well.

“Maybe in years to come and I will look back on this period maybe I will see the difference in the Club,” he said. “I do think I had a contribution to the attacking style. The statistics are certainly good in my Arsenal career. But there are so many other factors as well. Maybe I was part of it at the start but then the boss came. After that Overmars, Vieira, Petit, came in too.

“If you look at this team now they are all world-class players. Maybe they would not have played 15 years ago but they do now.”

Saturday’s friendly will be a game of two halves; the current Arsenal and Ajax squad contesting the first, all-time XIs from the two clubs contesting the second. Ian Wright, Patrick Vieira and Johan Cruyff are confirmed, a host of big names will join them.

“It is going to be special,” said Bergkamp. “I had a little bit of an experience with DB10 Day last season. That was quite emotional, this going to be a bit more. The most important thing is that I enjoy the day and share it with some of the other players.”

It is customary for the testimonee to get a goal on his big day. Some of the proceeds of the gate are going to charity but Bergkamp does not want the same from his fellow players.

“I don’t think they will [gift a goal] and if they did I would feel a little bit embarrassed. If it is my own effort then fine.”

To be honest the best defences in the world have barely been able to stop Dennis Bergkamp so Saturday’s sides don’t stand much of a chance.

* Event starts at 4.15pm.