Prior to the yesterday’s game between Arsenal and Sunderland, Arsenal fans where waiting outside of the Emirates Stadium to witness one more historic moment for the club.
After Tony Adams and Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp became third player to have his statue in front of his former club stadium. The Dutch international played 315 games for Arsenal, in which he scored 87 goals. During his 9 seasons in Arsenal, he won both the Premier League and FA Cup, he was part of the squad called “The Invincibles” – team undefeated through the season 2003/04 in the Premier League.
Only thing he is missing in rich trophy collection are silverware from both Champions League and UEFA Cup as a Gunner. When he was an active player, Arsenal lost both finals of those competitions, UEFA Cup against Galatasaray and Champions League against Barcelona. However, this doesn’t reduce the importance of the Non-Flying Dutchman (because of his fear of flight), everyone in the club and fans are aware of that, and here are pictures to show his statue’s unveiling.
And even his friend and former rival on the pitch, Edvin Van Der Saar, also paid tribute to Bergkamp :
New statue For Dennis Bergkamp in front of the Emirates stadium! @Arsenal @AFCAjax #WellDeserved pic.twitter.com/dqvkD9DNfz
— Edwin van der Sar (@vdsar1970) February 22, 2014