Bergkamp's still key to this happy family

14 April 2012

Patrick Vieira's eyes lit up. "Really? That's good news," he enthused. "Oh, fantastic," beamed Robin van Persie when he heard. Never mind the winners' medals in their pockets; one by one, Arsenal's FA Cup heroes sounded genuinely as if the real prize had been granted to them in Cardiff with news that Dennis Bergkamp would be back for one final fling.

On a day when Arsene Wenger plumped for pragmatism over pizzazz, providing us a passable George Graham impression, it seemed ironic that he should announce that he was giving his great artist a last chance to paint his lovely pictures at Highbury. Especially since forced to adopt a lone, scrapping striking role quite unsuitable for a serene 36-year-old, it felt as if Rembrandt had become Rolf Harris for an afternoon.

The last Cardiff FA Cup Final was an occasion to celebrate youth, to picture Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo leading a Manchester United revival next year and to see in the young Gunners Philippe Senderos and Van Persie not just the talent but also the nerve and the fight which is going to stand Wenger in good stead as, like Sir Alex Ferguson, he plots to derail the Chelsea express.

Yet as Bergkamp himself reflected how he felt Arsenal's future was in precocious hands, what with the unfortunate history-maker Jose Reyes only 21 and Van Persie, Senderos and Cesc Fabregas having not even reached that landmark yet, it was instructive to hear his team-mates rave about how the Dutchman's last stand will be key to kicking off the Ashburton Grove era with a flourish.

Bergkamp won't be there in the new stadium at the start of the 2006-07 season - "I think that will be beyond me," he said - but his presence is still certain to be felt. For just listening to Van Persie's awed reflections about him made you realise just how much the new breed are influenced by Bergkamp.

"I'm glad I can train with him every day," said Van Persie. "He's unbelievably smart with his passing, his vision. I've never seen anything like it in my life; he sees things that other people don't. He's a joy to watch and personally I'm happy he's staying one more year - and may be one year after."

No, says Bergkamp, his 11th season will definitely be his last and captain Vieira, banging the drum about the critical importance of keeping the squad together, senses that a bloke who has been around at Highbury long enough even to recall life before Wenger has a huge role to play next season both as teacher and leader.

Some things, you can't teach, though, and Bergkamp must have looked at his young compatriot Van Persie and seen a lad with the sort of fearlessness which is going to serve Arsenal well in the future.

There were times this season when it seemed the young Dutchman was rather more infected by rashness and rebelliousness but he's evidently learned lessons fast - and you have to enjoy his spirit.

"Edu went to the boss and said, 'I'm not confident about this penalty' and I said, 'I am, I want to take it'," revealed Van Persie. Ah, the confidence of youth. If Wenger had known how much Van Persie was shaking, he'd never let the young substitute near the box.

A straight comparison between the two sides on Saturday could easily persuade you that United look in better shape than Arsenal to make the more confident assault on the Premiership title next season, what with the toothlessness up front highlighting again the alarming over-reliance on Thierry Henry.

Yet these youngsters, even Fabregas who'll have learned much from having been outplayed by Roy Keane, are learning with remarkable alacrity and possess wonderful self-belief.

Forget this unlikeliest of Arsenal slogs; Senderos preferred to remind everyone afterwards that Arsenal had spent much of the end of the season "showing we can play the best football in England".

Van Persie sounded a bit emotional as he tried to explain how this felt even better than when he'd won the UEFA Cup with his home town club, Feyenoord.

"I think it's because of my club, the lads, guys like Ashley [Cole] and Sol [Campbell] . . . it feels like everyone is part of one big family."

After this outrageous piece of pickpocketing, the kids in this happy family - aided and abetted by an old Dutch uncle - should now believe anything's possible.

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David Jones (Footballer)

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Bergkamp's still key to this happy family

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