Yesterday’s news that Arsenal is to unveil another statue at the Emirates is just another example of wasting fans money on players that simply aren’t good enough any more. (That OK Mr Usmanov? Usual fee in a brown envelope please.)
Returning to the real world, Dennis is set to take his rightful place alongside Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry, commemorated as one of the true greats of Arsenal’s recent history. Dennis described himself as honoured and proud and told us that he loves us, which is just peachy because, guess what DB – we all love you too. He was a little circumspect about the unveiling sounding like Nick Clegg talking about the cabinet following the next election, saying he’d do everything he could to be there which when you put it like that sounds like he might very well not be there.
I don’t know about you but Dennis holds a particular spell on me. I have been known to watch Ajax matches just hoping for a glimpse of him on the bench looking suave, casual smart in a chic suit and open necked shirt – no tie. Like many of you (I suspect) I harbour a secret vision of him winning Dutch and European trophies before taking over from an eighty year old Arsene Wenger who, having won his third consecutive unbeaten league title, decides to step aside. Dennis then goes on to be as good a manager as he was a player. And I die a happy man.
We all have our favourite DB10 moments of course. There were so many crazy good goals, such strength and control, such vision and precision that if you had to choose one as an all time best you’d become a gibbering wreck. How do you separate the turn one way send the ball the other against Newcastle from the solo dribble and thunderbolt against Southampton or the “I’m going away from goal no I’m not I’m turning leaving you behind and chipping the keeper from outside the box” against Leverkeusen? How do you separate any of them from the right foot, left foot, left foot, right foot hat trick goal against Leicester? Better not to even try.
Oddly enough my favourite isn’t a even a goal. The moment of DB magic that had me screaming at the screen and still gives me chills is a simple assist. Simple for a football God that is. It was another great European night (we all have so many to thank Mr Wenger for don’t we?) Arsenal versus Juventus December 4th 2001 at Highbury. You remember it? 2 – 1 to Arsenal with the end of the match in sight, Dennis receives the ball on the far corner of their area does some Riverdance shit for the fun of it then turns two Juve defenders inside out like pillowcases. In the meantime he has mesmerised every other player in their team which allows Freddie to skip through undetected but unfortunately on Dennis’ wrong side. No problem for the maestro. He just turns it around the corner with the outside of his boot to deliver the perfect pass, perfect assist which Freddie banged home with glee. I love that moment for it’s audacity and invention, for his strength and vision and above all his team play. For a ruthless goal scorer Dennis was always a team player first and foremost. I would imagine Ian Wright, Davor Suker, Nicolas Anelka, Marc Overmars, Thierry Henry would all agree that they shone that little bit brighter for basking in his reflected light.
I read some fatuous baloney from people bemoaning the fact that we don’t sign players of his calibre any more. I’m not going to explain why here, we all know the reasons we can’t afford the most expensive talents in world football right now but that isn’t the point. The real issue is that there is only one Dennis Bergkamp with his unique skill set and icy calm in front of goal. These guys don’t come along very often so rather than make negative comparison with players we have today why not just revel in the memories he gave us. Oh yes and tease yourself a little about his future managerial career. Why not, it can’t hurt to fantasise can it?
Returning from the warm nostalgic glow of Bergkampian memory to the present day and I have just begun to take an interest in the league table. The reason was brilliantly summed up by Zimpaul the other day with his 800 metres analogy. In that particular discipline, he tells us, it is the final bend before the home straight that makes or breaks the runners. It is there that you win or lose the race and to his way of thinking we are approaching that bend now. As a consequence I have to begin to consider the importance of other teams and their results. Usually these days we see the two moneyed Mancs, Chelsea and one plucky outsider in contention with us for the much prioritized top four finish. Sometimes Everton show promise sometimes Aston Villa, Spurs or Newcastle have a season beyond their wildest expectations and come close to the holy grail of Champions League football, and of course usually they fail to make it over the line.
This time around those plucky little cocks from the Lane are actually having, by their standards, a pretty good season. No point in allowing our silly rivalry get in the way of the facts, they have shown bottle, not least to come back against a pretty average Bolton Ham United on Monday in a game which, had Fat Sam’s men put away their chances, they really could have lost. St Bale the Chimp Boy Of Nazareth and media darling is finding his shooting range and looks determined to finish his Spurs career on a high. For the first time in an unimaginably long time we are actually going to have to work really hard to overhaul them. I shan’t easily forget wasting my Monday evening watching that tripe but as ZP says this is where the race is won or lost and so our rivals’ matches become ever more important. For all the heroics from their talismanic if under-evolved simian striker, our near neighbours still have many problems. A poor West Ham found holes in their creaky defence and an over reliance on one player, well, lets just say we know how that can sometimes hurt you. Don’t discount the possibility of both us and them making the top four at the expense of the Chavs; stranger things have happened. And don’t expect anyone to suddenly turn into Dennis Bergkamp and ride to our rescue. We have many top quality players but the important thing is the team not the individuals. When we’ve destroyed people this season we’ve done it as a beautiful free flowing single entity not as scattering of shining stars.
The most important derby for a long time draws near. We’re on the shoulders of some of the early pace setters. Time to hold our nerve and get into the right place for that final sprint to the line.
Positively Arsenal 
Morning STEWW
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Morning gk. Hope you are chipper and full of beans.
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Excellent read mate. Just great. DB has to make it to the unveiling.
No two ways about it. Look forward to that day.
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Fantastic.
As I read the opening paragraphs I thought to myself “I will tell everyone about my favorite moment ,the Juventus magic moment.”
Mmm.
Thinking about my love for Dennis ,puts my flirtation with Andrei into perspective.
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We really did have a magnificent group of footballers then. Loyal and full of character. Rock solid the whole lot of them.
we have a good group now also and with much potential. I hope we seek it in full bloom very soon.
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Morning MASTER GEORGE
my man crush was manu PETTIT. what a solid player.
handsome Basterd too. Hahaha
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Did you photo shop bales image or is that one of his worse days?
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Morning all!
Splendid post Mr B. Am enjoying the Dutch humour although I think it’s an old gag; apparently our Dennis did all he could to make it to his own wedding (with some success, I might add).
The Chelski decline is an odd one isn’t it? On paper they should be riding the crest of ‘being European Champions’ wave yet dear old Roman has royally buggered up the club, once again.
Spuds do look good for a top four finish so I’m looking forward to a tussle with the blues who are going to have to work hard to pick up the pace. The problem spurs have is the better they and the wonder boy do, the more likely the two of them will be separated come the end of the summer.
And nobody would want that, would they?
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I thought that was one of his better days, GK.
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Good stuff Steww
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Actually,I don’t want Bale to leave Spurs.
They invested in him and they reserve to profit from his skill.
I want us to be better than them by a distance WITH him in their team.Not for them ,any excuses about player being poached.We know the pain of that.Its will be as real for them as it has been for us.
I want us to be better ,not them worse.
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Brilliant Stew. “Does some Riverdance shit for the fun of it then turns two Juve players inside out like pillowcases” Lovely read.
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Hahaha
Morning ANDREW. I think you are correct in expecting Chelsea to drop points. I might add city to that list. That leaves these pretenders we are playing on Sunday and we must do a proper job on them to start their downward spiral. 2nd place can be done with a little luck….
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Wojo
Bacary. sacker Kosher nacho
. diaby artteta
. JACK W
Theo. Lucas p
. og
Bench…. tv.. Santiago.. Jenks.. Vito… Aaron.. Ox
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Excellent Stew
Remembering DB10’s assists can make you do a little wee in your culottes.
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Kam ,IMO there is zero chance of Cazorla not starting.For all the hype surrounding Jack(and most of it deserved)Santi is ahead of him and everyone else when it comes down to it.
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Wow. Looks like Benitez is on his way out shortly… What a mess..
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Agreed GEORGE but we can’t drop JW on this form. So poldi starts on the bench. Santiago left wing. Good enough imo..
Jack CAM.
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Roman is going to sack him before this weekend imo.
Talk about anger. And they say AW was out of control.. Pfffft
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Is Diaby Fit though?
He limped off at the weekend .And he is hardly a quick healer.
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Of the top five mangers Only. AVB. and. Ferret face Ferguson are not under constant attacks from the media… hmmm..
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I swore that I would never again fall for a footballer after the antics of the anti-Dennis. But I was wrong. I was always a massive fan of our player-coach Rosicky*, then came his apprentice Little Jack. And Santi is something.
*The realsitic historians have attempted to ignore the signings made by a manager on a tight budget: of Rosicky Eduardo & Sagna to complement that squad of 07/08 (I’d mention agent Adebayor too but I can’t be arsed). Of course, from non-stop sniping at the lack of spending (whuilst ignoring the above players and the context they were signed in) the realistic revisionists are now saying that AW is not spending the money he now has. Disingenius and deliberate running down of the club is what it is.
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Whom else can handle moussa physically?? Francis?? Aaron??
I haven’t heard him being on injured list…
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G69
Muller: I’m a huge fan have been for ages, I think Anicoll5 is too. Definitely one of the Top Top players at this moment in time: He’s quick! For me he is the player that others like Walcott and Pedro (the Spanish Theo) should be looking to.
That Shaqiri doesn’t even get game time at the moment leaves me feeling a little nervous, unless he is injured. I suppose he was the best attacker in the u21 tournament, but Martinez caught the eye for me back then.
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The hidden agenda has always been to get ride of AW. Even if they won’t say it out loud. Then turn the club into another big spending entity to compete immediately for trophies.. In their minds he is the handbrake holding the team back.. Fools
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Anyways I hope diaby is ready to go. We can use him.
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“saying he’d do everything he could to be there which when you put it like that sounds like he might very well not be there.” As much as he loves us I suppose he does have responsibilities to his first love, Ajax and I would be sad if he promised to come and then couldn’t. I’m sure Arsenal will work around his availability and make it happen.
George, Abou has started posting on his Twitter account and says he came off as a precaution, so hopefully the rest will do him good. We would be better with him there on Sunday.
Finsbury, I love your idea of the rock-meister as a player-coach. That would be super cool! (if smiley’s weren’t banned here, I would have posted the one wearing sunglasses!)
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DB and Arsenal; perfect synchronicity (hat tip to Hunter). Right player at the right time. Lest we forget, during his tenure at Inter, he was regarded as a failure. Until he was signed by Arsenal; right club, right player. He was signed by Bruce Rioch for a record transfer fee at the time but undoubtedly it was Wenger who brought out the best from the maestro; right manager, right club.
Segue’s beautifully to Sunday’s NLD. We are entering into the homestretch. Chelsea via Rafa is already imploding under the strain. Spuds are in front but coming up on the outside like a runaway train is Arsenal; right club, right manager.
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think it was montero then steww ….and maybe ferrara too (?) ha dennis schooled them there no doubt..and pop ..freddie ..goal…
today i will be negative for the first time ever….i received my order for which i paid something ridiculous like 500 pounds for everything ( managers jacket, nike training tops, hoodies, replicas, books, slippers and bathrobe) and i have to say that is not the original manager’s jacket…..no it is not. it is a poorer version, and it isnt at knee length , only waist length…ok a bit longer than waist…but still…. not the same. i also ordered the 70’s replica..and it aint a replica..its made of cotton…lol… ive got ajax;s from 70’s by le coq sportif and i wanted the exact same arsenal one with long white sleeves but with the canon instead of the ancient greek warrior..these two artifacts are very important to my collection..( boooooooooooo arsenal online store ….. spend some fkn money on good fabric for replicas..boooooooo..) 🙂 hahaaaa..
however the two nike training zipper tops, one with the yellow line on shoulder and the other with the purple line on shoulder are fucking brilliant. i will wear them to work, and promote a new fashion trend…
i have thought of a banner with arsene dressed as david copperfield holding magic wand in pne hand ,, hat on the other and *ching* a photo of the emirates..another *ching* ..pjoto of invincibles..another *ching* photo of thetrophies he’s won…another *ching* and photo of the young english core..ching ching ching ching ching overload…then we need to organise a choreography …i also know some dodgy seafarers who can supply us with flares……… and grenades for the preemptive strike at whl this week. 🙂
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‘Kam.
They’ll slag of Pat Rice or Gunnersaurous until the team is doing poorly, then they will turn on the manager, and by the seasons end these past three seasons, they are recharging for the next year. Certainly know how to enjoy their football!
–
Here’s an unlikely staring XI for the NLD:
‘keeper
Kozza – Vermaelan
Sagna/Jenks (fitness call) – Monreal
Arteta – Wilshere
Rosicky
Walcott Carzola
Giroud
That back four could start against Swansea, that might make more sense.
Midfield? Probably one of Rambo or Coquelin will start? No idea. Not too bothered. Would be nice if Rosicky was (match)fit enough to twine the spuddied midfielders like he did poor Yaya.
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Brilliant Steww!
A picture of god and a monkey on the same page as well. Controversial.
Look at the long-running farce (and there really is no other word for it) currently playing out at Chelsea. I sometimes wonder if this is what people want for our great club.
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I never felt comfortable with the act of genuflection, however in front of Bergkamp’s (soon to be) statue it feels like the only real course of action and would seem natural. Nod to god on the way in to my place of worship. Who needs to fly when you can walk on water.
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Excellent, Stew. That assist was outrageous.
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zong – wasn’t it though? The Riverdance thing actually allowed time for the defence to line up neat and straight and Freddie to get into position to dart in through them. The timing of the final pass was sublime and when you consider he had to improvise and do it all in a fraction of a second. Well.
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Rumour has it that Sagna is out, Gibbs is out & Diaby is doubtful.
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I could sit & watch that goal all day long. #UTA
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Blimey a fitting tribute to Dennis from positively arsenals very own number 10- bloody brilliant! Nice to see the queen of twitter gooners madge on here as well, so if stew is number 10 and bradyesque is obviously number 7, I’d like number 4 please as my positively arsenal squad number?. Another thing that’s just struck me is this blog was set up at a time when most of the others are digging our great club out about all kinds of ridiculous things, some snidey, some just plain spiteful, but in the future we can look back and remember that we got going when we weren’t winning stuff,when some idiots had banners and stickers and booing was commonplace,we got this blog going in support of the team, the club and the manager, time for a group hug but George put your trousers back on.
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@zong at 11:08 am
I don’t know whether I should thank you or not for that video! I’m on my lunch break at work. I watched DB/Ljunbergs goal and then clicked on the Arsenal’s greatest goals. Believe me it brought a tear to my eyes and a lump in my throat. Consider that I work in an open plan office!!!! I miss those moments and lament the loss of so many of those great players….Here’s hoping we get back there soon…
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What Mel said. I agree with all of that (apart from the hug bit).
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Good afternoon all,
Finsbury, that is so my team right there. It may miss a bit of physical power but what you lack in power you make up in tenacity. Having Wilshere, Rosicky and Santi in the same side popping triangles around ‘Scotty’ Parker would me a happy chappy. I shed a tear every game that goes by without watching Rosicky, the same for the Kobra also.
Whatever the team, I hope we do ourselves justice and knock Bale FC down a peg or two.
Right, after a glance at the comments. I am off to read the post. Enjoy your Thursday.
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Thanks, Steww. Great read!
Bergkamp, I am not sure if I have had the privilege of watching a better player in the modern era. The man is brilliant and his game has no weaknesses.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWrC2Ms5uP8
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Ah thank you for the video Paul. Sighhhhh
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My pleasure, Steww. What a player!
And, we are going to put on a great display on Sunday. Another slice of humble pie will be served up.
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PAUL
so true. Greatest all around footballer I have seen. Technically mentality and emotionally. Tnx for the video..
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PaulN @ 4:07 pm – Absolutely divine. There is no substitute for class.
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page 142-143 – arsenal teh making of a modern superclub
“the arsenal supporters disquiet would have been more pronounced if they had realised that arsene wenger was receiving inadequate funds to keep his team at the same competitive level, and that lean times -in terms of trophies- were unavoidable. ”
BINGO ! – the reply for those who wonder why wenger and club werent “honest” to fans about money and trophies and hence replied diplomatically…..
“The manager had his budget, but a substantial portion of his transfer spending would have to be funded by his own aptitude to get good prices for the players going out the door. And on this level, the income raised from the sale of the academy -developed youngsters who failed to hold down a first team spot became almost as important as the higher sums picked for the likes of Patrick Vvieira and Thierry Hnery when the manager considered they were expendable”
Bingo #2 ! – the reply to those who ask why we sold our legends and how an academy always helps to raise funds via sales…. the essence of scouting..see porto see sevile ..buy low ,,,develop….. sell high.
“We certainly dont have a plan B” said Peter Hill-Wood ” so i dont think about it [Wenger leaving] . The only time i do think from time to time is who on earth we would have if we didnt have him. Then i put it out of my mind because i cant think of an alternative.”
Bingo#3 – the reply to those who think replacing him will be an easy task and a confirmation that the board/owner had the right man for the job.
Despite the constraints, Wenger was upbeat.
“I tell you there are half a dozen who have a chance [ to establish themselves in the first team]. Really promising players. It thrills me, for one simple reason. Its that i feel that i came here and ive helped the club to…not only to win. I would like to think that i have taken it through an era where we have put the club at a difeerent level. For the training ground, for the new stadium, for the youth set-up which has become international, and of course if we can win everything with the top team its fantastic. But to think that nothing major can happen to this club now gives me an easier sleep. IF THE CLUB GETS INTO FINANCIAL TROUBLE, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IT WILL NOT GET RELEGATED WITH THE PLAYERS WE HAVE.”
bang bang bang !
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BANG BANG INDEED
who is your starting eleven this Sunday HUNTER13.?
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“Look at the long-running farce (and there really is no other word for it) currently playing out at Chelsea. I sometimes wonder if this is what people want for our great club.”
Look at the running farce currently playing out at Real Madrid. They haven’t reached the heights of the Del Bosque era despite having the most expensive squad in the world for at least a decade now.
The people who want rid of Wenger are imbeciles. I wouldn’t trust them with making me a cake on an E-Z Bake oven.
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dennis is undoubtibly a genius but the statues are worrying as they the players are all from one team, are the board or whoever is making these decisions thinking the world started in 2004 like the press and most current football fans.
the other point id like to make is the tacticly inept WENGER deployed dennis on the right and not behind the main striker during these euro nights and it worked perfectly
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