The Dutch Master

It was just a matter of time before this mans name appeared out here - Dennis Bergkamp.

My first sighting of the Dutch Master was in a game for Holland, around 1990 - dont recollect against whom the game was being played. In the penalty box, a young Bergkamp traps the ball that comes sailing in, turns around and slams the ball in. He runs back celebrating with a clenched fist - with a look of quiet confidence which I didnt quite understand at that point.

Was familiar with the name however, as 'Sportstar' did mention his name as one of the men to watch in the 1990 world cup. There were reports that he would succeed the great Dutchh trio from AC Milan eventually - Guillt, Van Basten and Rijkaard.

At that time, my football viewing was restricted only to the World Cups, given the limited coverage on TV of the various international leagues. Further, I was not fortunate to come across anyone who could explain the beautiful game that football was. I was a sucker for cricket (like most of us were) and was quite happy with that. Also explains why I dint have a clear favourite team - in terms of a club or a country at that time.

Brazil seemed to be the outright favourite for most people I knew - because of their incredible style and their success in World Cups. For me however, I continued to watch World / Euro Cup without the passion of a football fan i.e. not dreaming or spending sleepless nights worrying bout a team's performance the next day.

Then came the World Cup in France*. 1998. Was a quarter-final game between Holland and Argentina. Was surrounded in the TV room of a hostel in Lucknow, by hordes of opportunistic Argentinean, Brazilian and French fans. In the humid environs of the room, my eye caught its first "moment" of the beautiful game.

It was a humid day in Marseilles, France as well. The match was tied and in the 89th minute a long ball was sent sailing by De Boer to the other end of the pitch. There was Bergkamp waiting on the right hand corner of the pitch. With couple of Argentinean defenders rushing in on him, there was little time to do anything much - for most footballers, that is. In what seemed too casual for an international game - let alone a World Cup QF match - Bergkamp traps the ball with his right leg stretched out with ease, side steps the Argentinean hulk, and slams the ball at an acute angle. Over the Goal Keeper and into the goal. Minimal fuss and maximum skill.

Holland wins.

That moment, I realise, was very critical for the future of football - for me. It was my moment of falling in love with the beautiful game. It was a personal moment as well - because in that room of some 100 people, not one really caught on to that moment of sheer class and elegance. People, opportunistic that they are, were talking of only Baggio, Beckham, Ronaldo and more recently, Zinedine Zidane.

Though I wasnt convinced of Holland as a team, was disappointed when they went out to the Brazilians in a penalty shoot out in the semis. Disappointed that I couldnt see any more of Dennis Bergkamp.

Circa 2000. With the TV coverage of the EPL being splendid, sat down to watch a few games on a drug-induced, lazy Sunday. The match was in Highbury, London and the team that was playing was Arsenal. And from my understanding until that point, the Gunners were considered a boring team. The famous back 4 etc. But the team I was watching bore no resemblance to that primitive understanding of mine. Here was a team, packed with genuine athletes with the sole intent of scoring goals - and beautiful ones at that.

Spearheading the attack, was none other than the Dutch Master, Bergkamp himself. Of course there were other exceptional players out there - Henry, Viera, Wiltord, Pires, Lungnberg, Tony Adams, Ashley Cole, Ray Parlour, Martin Keown amongst others. And managed by a tall, thin Frenchman, Arsene Wenger. Here was a finally a team, that I wanted to belong to.

At that point, I felt miserable not catching the run of this team beginning with when Wenger took over the reins of the club in 1996. In other words, missing out on this beautiful vein of football that Arsenal played. In the most unlikely of events, Wenger was picked from the remote leagues of Japan to become the first foreign coach of an English premiership team. Bergkamp was his first signing, amongst a lot others that were to follow, that would revolutionise the way football was played - in England at least. And finally in 2006, in Europe as well. Anyways, this note is about Bergkamp, and not about the vision of Arsene Wenger.

In the past 6 years, that I have been an Arsenal fan, nothing excites me more than watching the Dutch Master - evolving from an outright striker to a master play maker. Over a period of time, Bergkamp left the bulk of the goal scoring to some of his younger and accomplished colleagues. While he focussed on threading passes and using his enhanced vision & intelligence to set up some of the greatest goals one has ever seen. On hindsight, Bergkamp was clearly the pioneer of "beautiful football" that one has begun to associate with Arsenal over the last 10 years.

The current season for the Gunners has been one of many disappointments and recently of sheer exuberance. With fair share of controversies thrown in - Patrick Viera being sold, Ashley Cole sulking after the brief Chelsea love affair which went horribly wrong and Thiery Henry contemplating his future with this under-20 side.

It also happens to be Bergkamps last season before he excuses himself from the football pitch. Also happens to be the last year of football being played on the great Highbury pitch.

Which brings me to the weekend’s match at Highbury. As has been the practice this entire season, the day was dedicated to an Arsenal stalwart by the fans. It happened to be the 'Dennis Bergkamp' day. It was pleasing to see scores of Arsenal fans dressed in the Dutch Orange (complete with hair dos etc) to support the master - a sight that one seldom sees in a club match. And am sure each one of them were hoping (just as I was) he would get a few minutes.

The game appeared sealed with Helbs inspirational goal before the interval and forced Wenger to pull out Henry with about 30 minutes to go. After another 10 minutes, Wenger brought in Pires and Bergkamp in a double substitution. The entire Highbury stadium rendered an applause, that I have not seen too often in any sport. It just seemed for that minute, all the Gunners - on the field and off it - had taken time off to bask in that environment. And it just took that minute, for West Brom to equalise.

There was confusion quite obviously. It was not the way it was meant to be. Honestly, I wanted to put all my money on Arsenal winning at that point. But I dint expect the way it happened.

Bergkamp and Pires combining, again in a moment of sheer class, to take the lead. What appeared to be yet another complex maneuver, was suddenly made to look less complex and easy.

And then the moment that I have waited all this season: a forceful run by Pires (?) down the right, to pass the ball to the Dutch Master. Only for Bergkamp to slot it past the goal keeper for Arsenals 3rd goal for the evening. Everyone at the stadium and watching the game, took yet another minute to celebrate the genius of the Dutch Master.