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What was Dennis Bergkamp to you?

To me, the man is, and will always be. a total legend. Albeit one who perhaps went on a season or two too long. Never the less, an Arsenal legend and by all accounts a thoroughly decent chap. The very antithesis of the modern footballer stereotype perpetuated by David Bentley, Ashley Cole and, so as not to make this sound like the rantings of a bitter man, Frank Lampard in fact.

So it's fitting that Gaël Clichy, another who knows how lucky he is to have football rather than the other way round, has told L'Equipe of a conversation that took place with the great man when Cole and Clichy were both occupying the treatment table in 2005,

"He watched Ashley Cole, who was also having a treatment, and finally said: 'Come back soon, and if you succeed, you will get his position.' Dennis and Ashley are friends, but that simple sentence was so good to me. I held on, and then I recovered quickly."

We all know what happened in 2006 and so the youngster, who seemed to have a lot of bad luck with injuries up until the move to our new home, has now become one of our most consistent performers. Over at A Cultured Left Foot, the speculation is how this conversation, if it was heard by him, would have affected Cole.

For me, the potential effect on Clichy to hear something like that coming from Dennis must have been hugely galvanising. It must have been similar to Tony Adams casually, and famously now, remarking to Dennis himself a few years previously, "You've been here two and a half years, isn't about time you won something? It would be a shame not to with your ability."

Of course, at the end of Dennis' third year, Arsenal had the Premier League trophy and FA Cup residing in their trophy cabinet. Job done and mission accomplished, perhaps the youngsters at the club now need that kind of psychological management around them.

Speaking of youngsters, what a goal young Aaron Ramsey scored for Wales U-21s last night. It needs to be seen to be believed. It's difficult to imagine he will ever score a better one, Aaron also went on to deliver another defence splitting through ball for the second goal Wales scored last night. He's getting a bit of a habit for those. I didn't see the game last night, but my Tottenham supporting mate Randall did and was telling me (no pressure here) that Ramsey is already better than Fabregas!

Another one subscribing to the theory that, rather than partner him, Ramsey is here to deputise for and ultimately replace Cesc when he returns to Cataluña. I'm not sure about that myself and given the fact there's only 4 years between the two lads, it seems unlikely; but could there come a time when Cesc finds himself subject to the same law of diminishing returns that, once upon a time, saw him replacing Patrick Vieira at the hub of our engine room?

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Posted on 18 Oct, 2008 at 08:52 AM - Reply

i dont think he went on a season or two too long?...obviously he wasnt at his peak, but he was still good right till the last game...right until the testimonial in fact!

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