Dennis Bergkamp
Arsenal 8 Kristianstads 1
Kristianstad, Sweden
Dennis Bergkamp
How is it possible? – 21 years ago!!!
After being signed by Bruce Rioch from Inter Milan for £7.5million, Dennis Bergkamp started his Arsenal career against Kristianstads of the Swedish Second Division on 26 July 1995.
In the same game England international David Platt was also making his Arsenal debut in midfield.
David Platt
Bergkamp started on the bench and watched as strike partners Ian Wright scored once and John Hartson twice to give Arsenal a 3-1 lead at half time. Hartson was substituted at the break and Bergkamp took to the pitch.
He was happy initially to take a peripheral part as Paul Merson expertly chipped into the net and then shot in from a Ray Parlour cross to make it five for the Gunners. As the Swedes tired the Dutchman showed his class as he scored a hat-trick within six minutes. His first goal in an Arsenal shirt was a rising drive, he then took the ball from a defender to score the second and finally crashed the third in from a Glenn Helder cross.
After the game he spoke prophetically of his hopes for the future:
“I would like to captivate English football in one year…I have joined for four years and my ambition is to do well for Arsenal over the whole of my contract. If I can help to win prizes for the club than I shall be quite happy”
We were asked by Andy Exley to write in last season’s Emirates Cup programme about 10 big name Gunners who made their first team debut for the club during the pre-season. This was a tie in with Petr Cech who made his debut a week before the Emirates mini tournament at the 2015 Barclays Asia Trophy final
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