Bergkamp vows to stay at Arsenal

Dennis Bergkamp today indicated he wants to finish his career at Highbury.

The 33-year-old Dutchman, who played a key role in Arsenal's League and FA Cup double last season, said: "I can see myself finishing my career at Arsenal. The way I feel now I don't see myself going for another challenge in a foreign country.

"I'm not so sure about going back to Holland to play there, so the only option is to finish my career here. When that will be I don't know. I've got one more year left on my contract, so I'll see what happens during the season."

But Bergkamp made it clear that if his form begins to suffer he will contemplate retirement rather than allow his standards to drop. In an interview in the new Official Arsenal Magazine, he said:

"It's a long season. You never know how I'll feel in February or March. The main thing is to maintain your standards. If you feel that things are dropping slightly I wouldn't want to hold on and live for just a few moments."

The former international, who has won two championship medals since joining the club from Inter Milan in June 1995 for £7.5million, says he enjoys his life in London following the move from Italy. He spent the summer on holiday in France having retired from international football last year.

Bergkamp, who was training with Arsenal today ahead of Sunday's Premiership opener against Birmingham, added: "We've been here eight years. That says it all. We, as a family, we just enjoy it. We have three kids now and they were all born here so that says a lot as well."