Not many footballers are lucky enough to see a statue of themselves unveiled in honour of their achievements at a club. Even less so when spending just a little over a decade at that particular side. But then again, Dennis Bergkamp was no ordinary player, revolutionising the number 10 role during his time in North London to win the acclaim of every single Arsenal supporter.
Voted the Gunners' second best ever player in a 2008 poll conducted by the Premier League outfit, behind only fellow attacking great Thierry Henry in a list oozing quality, the Dutchman rightly earned his place in Arsenal folklore despite spending just 11 years at Highbury before calling time on his career in 2006.
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Chants of 'boring, boring Arsenal' would soon be replaced, as the man labelled the Non-Flying Dutchman due to his fear of flying became Bruce Rioch's first signing at the club. A record £7.5m transfer fee was handed over to Inter Milan, on this day in 1995, to secure his services on a long-term basis.
Inter actually took a big dent in the £12m they had themselves splashed out to land Bergkamp from Ajax just two years prior, with unhappy president Massimo Moratti claiming that Arsenal would be lucky to see their new star signing score double figures during his first season in England.
The controversial Italian chief did not appear to be too far wrong, in fact, when the skilful forward took seven games to get off the mark in a red and white shirt. Struggling to fully adapt to the demands of Premier League football, Bergkamp ended his first season on these shores with 11 goals in 33 games. A ratio of one goal every three games, which was certainly not a terrible return for a player trying to get fully up to speed.
It was not until the appointment of a certain Arsene Wenger at Highbury, 12 months after the Dutchman put pen to paper, that he truly began to flourish in his new surroundings. Granted far more attacking freedom by Wenger, the Dutchman ended his second campaign with 13 assists, despite making fewer appearances.
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Bergkamp was very much just getting started, putting his frustrating spell at Serie A giants Inter firmly behind him. Having guided Arsenal to their highest ever Premier League finish of third place, the only way was up as his 22 goals helped the club lift the famous crown for the first time since its inauguration in 1992, alongside an FA Cup double.
Now the focal point in attack, the Netherlands international was crowned the PFA Players' Player of the Year for his achievements in the 1997-98 season, scoring the goals that would one day see his success cemented - literally - in Arsenal's history books.
Boosted by an impressive showing at that year's World Cup, it was business as usual for Bergkamp the following season, finishing as second-top scorer with 16 goals in all, although the Gunners did relinquish their top-flight title to rivals Manchester United.
Disappointment for Arsenal continued to follow but it was in 2002, when another domestic double was wrapped up, that Bergkamp once more came to the forefront of things. A wonder strike against Newcastle United, in which he somehow managed to flick the ball around marker Nikos Dabizas with his back to goal and tuck home a sublime opener, being arguably the pick of the bunch in terms of the mercurial forward's career goals.
A milestone 100th goal was reached in the following campaign, a figure that would eventually rise to 120 before he left the club, while it was a year to remember when helping Arsenal go a whole term unbeaten, thus being crowned an Invincible.
Two underwhelming campaigns did not provide Bergkamp with the true send-off that he would have wanted, but in tribute to his years of service to the club a testimonial was held against boyhood side Ajax in the first match to be staged at the newly-built Emirates Stadium. Even in his dwindling years, the Dutchman was still helping to make history.
After 11 years, countless honours and a style of play that is etched firmly in the minds of each spectator that watched him up close, Bergkamp called it a day. Whether it be his aforementioned strike against Newcastle, the hugely impressive hat-trick against Leicester City or even countless key assists in vital games throughout his spell in North London, the now 46-year-old departed with memories that will last a lifetime.
Daniel Lewis
