THANK YOU, DENNIS

BY AASHISH BHSUSNURMATH

I live in India and have never been to Highbury or The Emirates, but having watched almost every single televised Arsenal game for the last ten years, I feel a connection unlike any other in my life. As a consequence it was difficult selecting one particular memory to write about.

There have been so many over the years that came to mind, that Bergkamp goal against Newcastle, Keown’s taunting of Van Nistelrooy, admiration for Adams’ fight against alcoholism, love for Freddie’s red streaked hair, the beauty of the 2005-06 season home shirt...but then I realised there was only one player who could inspire me to pen my thoughts on the club for the first time.

I’ve been an Arsenal fan since 1999 when I was about 14-years-old and I will continue to be one for the rest of my life. I became a fan of the club because of one man…Dennis Bergkamp; the best player I have ever seen and probably the best I will ever see. I know that even at his peak som people will say he was not as great as Maradona, but there was something about him that I just fell in love with and through him I fell in love with The Arsenal.

The instance that comes to mind is not his effort at St James’ Park or any of his other magnificent goals; it is the game against Wigan at the end of the 2005-06 season. The last ever match at Highbury, needing to better the results of Spurs to finish 4th, coming from behind to win, Henry scoring a hat-trick and kissing the grass, our neighbours losing – each and every one of those sub-plots is special.

But the one moment that brought tears to my eyes was when Dennis came on for the last time at our famous old home. Along with the crowd in the stadium thousands of miles away, I rose to my feet applauding and thanked him for the memories and for introducing me to my first love – The Arsenal.