Category Archives: Player Tribute

What Are Your Favourite Memories Of DB10?

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The Man. The Myth. The Absolute Legend.

Well one of Arsenal’s Greatest Ever players is playing his last game in an Arsenal shirt this weekend and like all Arsenal fans I will be devastated the time has come for the man to hang up his boots.

There is no over-stating what the Dutchman has done for Arsenal Football Club in the 11 years he has graced the Highbury turf, grounds across the country and around Europe in a Gunners shirt.

Along with Wenger, Dennis one of the reasons why Arsenal as a football club have gone onto the next level. In 1995 when he arrived with David Platt we were a top 6 team at best, trying to push the likes of United, Villa, Newcastle, Liverpool and Blackburn at the top of the league.

Bruce Rioch, the man who bought Dennis, wasn’t the man to bring that success but the Iceman still had a decent season.

Dennis was forming a superb partnership with Ian Wright and when Wenger arrived on 28th September 1996, it was clear Bergkamp – along with the defensive unit – was the strength of the team.

The very next year was to bring possibly his greatest season in an Arsenal shirt, as he helped Arsenal win the double for the first time since 1971. Dennis also won numerous personal awards and accolades that season including both of the Player of the Season awards for the Premiership. He also came 3rd in the World Player of the Year Awards, behind Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo.

Throughout the Wenger era Bergkamp has been the consistent force on the pitch and has become a legend in the process.

In his time at Arsenal Dennis Bergkamp has won 3 Premiership titles, 4 FA Cups and a sackful of personal awards for Goals of the Month, Goals of the Season, Player of the Year and god knows what else!

Dennis is not just an Arsenal legend but a Premiership legend.

There are far too many great moments the talented Dutchman has brought us over the years and I for one would like to thank Dennis for his years of dedication and simply awesome performances for Arsenal.

Simply outstanding.

So what are your favourite memories of DB10?

 

Au Revoir Bobby And All The Best!

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Goodbye To Six Great Years

Well all Arsenal fans knew it was going to happen for a while now but it has finally been confirmed that Bobby has finally left the club and moved on to Villarreal. And I for one wish him all the best.

With Rosicky arriving only a couple of days ago the writing was on the wall. Pires wanted that 2 year deal but Arsenal wouldn’t give it to him and now he’ll be riding on the Yellow Submarine. With Rosicky, Reyes, Freddie, Hleb, Van Persie and even Theo Walcott playing in similar areas of the field Pires was always going to find it hard to play many games. Even this season his appearances have been considerably less than of previous campaigns.

But Arsenal fans will remember Robert Pires with great affection, and he has been a big part in our Premiership and FA Cup triumphs over the last 6 years.

What I will remember most from Bobby is the that phenomenal goal he scored against Aston Villa in the 2001/2002 double winning season, and the goal that won us the FA Cup in 2003.

And I will also remember the tackles that led to Arsenal scoring huge goals. The first was in the unbeaten season, when Pires dispossessed Makelele at Stamford Bridge and fed Bergkamp. The Iceman then played in Vieira with an exceptional pass who slotted the ball past Sullivan and kept our unbeaten run alive. The second was the amazing tackle on Patrick Vieira at Highbury, which led to the Cesc Fabregas goal against Juventus.

Brilliant stuff.

But he has contributed so much more to the club and was Thierry Henry’s wing man – and an integral part of the lethal left side of Arsenal.

And he was a big player in the invicibles team of 2003/3004.

Pires made 284 appearances and scored 84 goals. 84 goals!

That’s 14 a season!

An excellent return for a midfielder, and even more impressive with the fact that he didn’t play many games last season. Who else except Lampard or Gerrard score that many goals?

And to make a comeback from the serious cruciate knee ligament damage he sustained in 2002 was a show of his character and determination this guy has.

Being substituted in the Champions League Final after only 18 minutes was a sad was to leave Arsenal, but we will always be grateful for the contribution you have given the club over the years.

All the best Bobby!

 

Bergkamp: The Man, The Myth, The Legend…

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Arsenal & Footballing Legend…

After the poor results of the last week, normal service was resumed yesterday with a 3-1 win over Premiership strugglers West Brom. But it was anything less that straight-forward.

In the first half, Arsenal were going through the motions and Henry missed the best chance of the half. Only the vision of Hleb broke the deadlock just before half-time, smashing in a shot at the near post after playing a smart one-two with Henry.

As usual at home, Arsenal had most of the possession and Henry came off with half an hour to go for Adebayor, and then Pires and Bergkamp replaced Hleb and Van Persie in quick succession. Then seconds later Nigel Quashie easy-dispossessed Eboue on the edge of the area to smash in a left-footed shot past Lehmann.

Henry seemed off form, but maybe he had his mind on Wednesday’s game against Villareal.

But minutes later Adebayor fed Pires who shot from the edge of the area only for Kuszczak to parry. The Iceman cooley took the loose ball and fed Pires again, who improvised well to put Arsenal 2-1 ahead.

But then at 2-1, Arsenal-linked Curtis Davies had a decent shout for a penalty and was clearly livid at not getting a spot kick. When I first saw it he did look to have gone down easily, but replays later that night on TV showed that Eboue lashed out a lazy kick and seemed to catch the West Brom captain. You win some you lose some!

Then with a minute remaining, Bergkamp showed his true class and picked the ball up just on the edge of the D, and everyone knew what Dennis was going to do.

He killed the ball with his first touch, moved the ball into space with his second and beautifully curled the ball into the top corner with his third.

A classic Bergkamp goal.

The Bergkamp goal really did send tingles down my spine – what a player he has been for us over the last 10 years he’s been with us!

What he has done for the game is truly awesome and for me has has been certainly been one of the Premierships greatest players of recent times.

Dennis Bergkamp, we salute you!