Dennis Bergkamp...The flying duthcman.

You could fill a page with a list of outstanding goals scored by him. You could fill two pages with a list of the goals that had their genius in his vision. And you could fill a dictionary with a list of superlatives used to describe his 11-year career with Arsenal. Dennis Bergkamp is quite simply a legend of the game.
In the last two decades many one-time unknowns have left Highbury with a fearsome reputation and much-warranted acclaim. But, in a way, Dennis was an exception; he came, and left, with a world-class calibre.
His arrival signalled a daring change in outlook from the men in charge at Arsenal. George Graham had been replaced by Bruce Rioch and ‘Boring, Boring Arsenal’ was to be replaced by something altogether more beautiful. Bergkamp was the catalyst.
Of course Rioch’s Highbury sojourn came to an abrupt end and in September 1996 Arsène Wenger took the reins. Bergkamp needn’t have fretted over his place in the Frenchman’s plans, though, and Wenger later claimed Dennis’ presence in the ranks had been “a blessing, a gift when I arrived”.
And so it was that under the tutelage of Wenger, Bergkamp redefined football in England’s top division. His textbook technique, physical prowess and second-nature for picking out the killer pass made him the ultimate symbol of fantasy football. Indeed when Arsenal usurped Manchester United as the country’s best team in 1998, Bergkamp, too, succeeded Eric Cantona as the Premier League’s brightest beacon of European excellence. That Double season Arsenal’s No 10 was outstanding and his reward at the end of the campaign was both major Player of Year awards to go with his Championship and FA Cup medals.
But, strangely, Bergkamp had had a fitful beginning to life in London, failing to score in his first seven senior outings. Pressure was mounting not least from the tabloid media who had branded the Dutchman ‘Hartle-Fool’ after failing to score against the North East minnows in a League Cup tie. How wrong they were. Within a week the Iceman confounded his critics with a cool brace at home to Southampton. He never looked back.
Numbers alone will not convey his pioneering pedigree. For the record though, Bergkamp plundered 120 goals in his time with Arsenal, making him the 10th highest goalscorer in the Club’s history; quite the achievement for a man who doesn’t do tap-ins.
The swivel at St James’, the lob against Leverkusen — goals coming just four days apart — the Filbert Street finale and of course the belter against Bolton that assured Arsenal a place in Europe. Everything Bergkamp did oozed class. From his rifle-sight accuracy with either foot or his exploitation of space, the Dutchman was the hub of Arsenal creativity for a decade.
Even age couldn’t wither his genius. Four years after guiding Arsenal to Premier League domination Bergkamp was at it again as Wenger’s men ruled once more. It was a similar story in 2003 as the Gunners marched to another FA Cup triumph, but by now Dennis was almost 34 and his contract was up. But Arsenal couldn’t let him go and he penned a one-year extension. Bergkamp repaid the faith shown in him with a typically classy season. The ‘Invincibles’, especially Messrs Henry, Ljungberg, Pires and Reyes, had a lot to be thankful for.
But time eventually caught up with Dennis and he decided, as Arsenal left Highbury, that his playing time was up. Only something massive and memorable would be good enough to reflect the impact the Dutchman had on the Club. The occasion of Bergkamp’s testimonial fitted the bill perfectly. The stars came out in force to honour one of the game’s greats - Marco van Basten and Johan Cruyff to name but two.
And the honours kept coming. In September 2007, Bergkamp was inducted in to the National Football Museum Hall of Fame, the first Dutchman to achieve such acclaim.
Some players elicit admiration, some provide inspiration, and a precious few can do both. Bergkamp was one such individual. His cast-iron technique was forged on the youth team training ground at Ajax and his steely character developed at Inter. But his best years will always belong to Arsenal.

Thiery Henry...Of all the great Gunners, the greatest.

Remember the kid in the playground who was better than everyone else with a football at his feet? That's what Thierry Henry was like in his pomp.
The Frenchman had exquisite technique, searing pace and surprising strength. And like the typical schoolboy superstar, he did pretty much everything for his team. Henry was the captain, the talisman, the dead-ball expert, the penalty-taker and the assist-maker.
Then there's the goals, a club record 226 of them to be precise, in just 380 games. And what a portfolio Henry built up during his eight years as Arsenal. Thumping drives, delicate chips, jinking runs, audacious backheels, even the odd header - the Frenchman had a myriad of ways to find the net.
Everyone has their own Henry highlights but here's just a few to whet the appetite: that flick-up and lob over Fabien Barthez, the slaloming run against Liverpool, the 60-yard surge against Spurs, that cheeky clip against Charlton, that beauty in the Bernabeu. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
And remember, Henry wasn't even a bonafide striker when he arrived at Highbury in the summer of 1999. Remember when he came off the bench for his debut against Leicester and threatened the North Bank regulars with his scattergun shooting? Surely Henry wasn't the natural replacement for Nicolas Anelka?
Arsène Wenger thought otherwise and, with the help of his eager French student, transformed Henry from erratic winger into striker extraordinaire. Henry took nine games to open his Arsenal account but a brace against Derby announced his arrival as a decent finisher. By the end of the season he was scoring at will and within a few years he was regarded as the best striker in the world. The North Bank could stop ducking and start celebrating.
They had plenty to celebrate too as Henry's goals came hand in hand with trophies. There were disappointments at first - the Uefa Cup and the FA Cup slipped agonisingly through Arsenal's grasp at the turn of the century - but a Double in 2002 made amends. Henry's contribution was emphatic: 32 goals in all competitions.
The Frenchman raised the bar even higher in the following two campaigns. Arsenal had to settle for the FA Cup in 2003 but 42 goals, 23 assists and both Player of the Year awards summed up just how influential Henry had become. He scooped both awards in 2004 as well and contributed 39 goals as Arsenal completed an unbeaten title season. Of all the 'Invincibles', Henry was surely the most indispensable.
In hindsight, this was probably Henry's prime and he can count himself unlucky to miss out on the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2003 and 2004, finishing runner-up on both occasions. The Frenchman was unplayable at times, capable of scoring from anywhere and terrorising defences all over the continent, especially when he drifted out left to pick up possession and run at retreating opponents.
As football became increasingly big business, Henry became the Arsenal 'brand'. This attractive, charismatic figurehead was now a global superstar, admired by all and feared by opponents. He even received standing ovations at away grounds and had a special affinity with Portsmouth's fans after sporting a Pompey shirt after an FA Cup tie at Fratton Park. Rival fans wished he was theirs, but Henry was ours.
Patrick Vieira's surprise departure in the summer of 2005 took Henry onto an even higher plain - he was now Arsenal captain. He celebrated in style, eclipsing the Club's scoring record with a brace at Sparta Prague in October of that year. Henry had learned so much about forward play from Ian Wright; now he was leaving the ultimate finisher in his wake.
Two League titles, two FA Cups, four Golden Boots, five Player of the Year awards and that Club record represented a major haul, but one thing was missing from Henry's CV. The Champions League had eluded him and his wait goes on after an agonising defeat in the 2006 Final. If Henry could replay one moment in his career again, it might be that one-on-one in the second half in Paris. A goal then could have put the game beyond Barcelona's reach.
Barcelona is, of course, where Henry now plies his trade. But he will always be an Arsenal man.Of all the great Gunners, Henry is the greatest.