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http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/news/Kind=8192/newsId=90192.html
Thursday, 14 August 2003
By Julia Court
It has been a summer clouded with uncertainty for Arsenal
FC's Dennis Bergkamp. With a new stadium draining the coffers
at Highbury, a fresh deal for the out-of-contract Dutchman -
which had once seemed a formality - hung in the balance.
But after weeks of wrangling, the 34-year-old finally tied
up a one-year deal in mid-July that will enable the striker
to end his illustrious career at the north London club.
Unfinished business
Sentimental reasons played some part in the striker's desire
to stay at the club he joined from Internazionale FC in 1995
for €10.6m, but Bergkamp's prime motivation for remaining at
Highbury was unfinished business.
Missed chances
"When you have such a special attachment to a club, emotions
of course come into these situations," he told uefa.com. "But
I would not want to stay if I didn't believe I could still play
at the highest level and make my contribution to the club. It
has also been the story that Arsenal have not performed to our
ability in Europe and now I have been given another chance in
the [UEFA]Champions League. To win this trophy in my final year
would be something incredible."
Cruel twist
Arsenal have only reached the final eight of the Champions League
once in the past five years, despite notching up two domestic
league and cup doubles within the same time frame. "To think
about what has happened before in the Champions League is not a
good way to prepare psychologically for our next season in Europe,"
said Bergkamp.
Lessons to learn
"It is important to focus on every game as it comes and to have
confidence in what we know we can do. But there are lessons that
we can learn from last season and I think the biggest thing that
let us down was our home form."
Medal hat-trick
A Champions League trophy would complete a formidable European
hat-trick for Bergkamp who already has winners' medals in the
UEFA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Add these to an impressive
list of domestic and individual honours and it is fairly safe
to say the quietly spoken player already has plenty to tell his
grandchildren about.
European swansong
However, before Bergkamp takes to the Champions League stage
there is the small matter of the Premiership to get under way.
The Gunners will be going all out to win back the title that was
snatched from under their noses by rivals Manchester United FC
at the end of last season.
Strong position
"The race for the title should be very interesting," said Bergkamp.
"Arsenal have had some criticism because we have not made many new
signings over the summer but we already have a very strong squad of
players at Highbury. I have said before that this is the best team
I have played with at Arsenal and now Patrick Vieira and Robert
Pires have re-signed we are in a very good position.
Young promise
"We also have a lot of young players coming through now. Jeremie
Aliadiere has been getting some attention recently. I've trained
with him for a while now and I can tell you, he is some player.
He has great skills and is always looking around for different
options in his play." Perhaps one day he will become the new
Dennis Bergkamp. But not before the old one has hung up his boots.
Dennis Bergkamp's website is at www.icons.com
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