Dennis bids fond farewellDennis Bergkamp bid farewell to those in the capital that favour red and white as Ajax were the first visitors to Arsenal's impressive new Emirates Stadium in what was a star-studded testimonial.
The mercurial Dutchman drew the curtain on an illustrious career in front of a suitably packed house, as in the first half a young-looking Arsenal side played their Ajax counterparts before in the second giving way to a lexicon of talent from yesteryear.
Bergkamp's final game in North London saw 54,000 supporters turn up to show their appreciation for a player that made 423 appearances for the club, scoring 120 goals - many of them sparkling in their execution.
While it would have been fitting for Bergkamp to open the scoring in Arsenal's new home, promising Ajax striker Klass Jan Huntelaar declined to concur with the script and grabbed the only goal of the first half after a neat near post finish exposed some static defending.
Bergkamp showed the occasional moment of magic in prompting his younger charges from deep but, in truth, the first half was very much an appetiser for the main event after the interval.
Bergkamp led out an Arsenal legends side that included the likes of David Seaman, Steve Bould, Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Vieira, Marc Overmars and Ian Wright, while Ajax fielded Frank Rijkaard, Edgar Davids, the De Boer brothers and later, for brief cameos, Marco Van Basten and Johan Cruyff.
If Huntelaar's strike in the first 45 minutes was somewhat out of sync with the occasion, Thierry Henry made sure a new era for the club was marked by an Arsenal great, as he finished smartly from Lee Dixon's archetypal delivery on the overlap.
Bergkamp will be disappointed he failed to etch his name on the scoresheet one last time, as his shooting was uncharacteristically wayward when handed the type of gilt-edged chances he normally dispatches with aplomb.
Rivalling Bergkamp's introduction for the biggest cheer of the afternoon came midway through the half when Gilles Grimandi unceremoniously dumped Tottenham midfielder Edgar Davids on his derriere, with a scything tackle from behind, just as the Ajax man was about to slot home a leveller.
Frank De Boer skied wayward from the resulting spot kick before Kanu added a second when his shot was deflected off Jaap Stam.
The day firmly belonged to Bergkamp and if the current Arsenal side can emulate the type of performances personified by the Dutchman, then those lucky enough to have a seat at the Emirates Stadium for next season will have plenty to look forward to.
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ჰოლანდიური ფეხბურთის ფანკლუბი, HUP HOLLAND
