‘Dennis Bergkamp was nasty’… Ex-Arsenal star reveals what it was really like to play with the legend

EXCLUSIVE: Dennis Bergkamp had a much-needed nasty streak, according to one of his old Arsenal teammates.

In his career, the Dutchman cemented his status as a Premier League icon, playing a key role in helping his club become ‘The Invincibles’. However, while he’s renowned for his elegance on the ball, by the sounds of things, the superstar wasn’t afraid to get physically stuck in when he needed to either.

Paul Dickov says Dennis Bergkamp had a ‘Nasty side’

During his time at Arsenal, Paul Dickov had ample time to fully understand what made Dennis Bergkamp so special.

When asked during an exclusive interview with Sporf, via MrQ, whether his old teammate had a nasty side, Dickov replied: “Yeah, he did. We’re talking levels here. I was fortunate enough to play in a few first-team games when I was at Arsenal with him, but to be on the training ground every day with him, to realise just how good he was, it blew your mind.

“People talk about his technical ability, vision, how graceful he was on the ball, but I think because of that, he got away with a little bit, because Dennis was nasty at times. He didn’t mind leaving his foot in, or the odd elbow in here or there, and he could look after himself from a physical point of view. But I think because he was that graceful on the football pitch, he got away with it. He had an underlying nastiness that you need.

“I think at that time a lot of foreigners came to the Premier League with big reputations and as fantastic players, but couldn’t handle the physical side of it. But the one thing Dennis was brilliant at, as good as he was with a football, was that physically, he could handle it.

“I think when you’re Dennis Bergkamp, and you’re training up against Martin Keown, Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon every single day, I think you soon get used to the physical side of it, trust me.”

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Paul Dickov reflects on why Ian Bishop was so vital for Manchester City

In addition to playing with Bergkamp at Arsenal, Dickov had a fantastic time at Manchester City with Ian Bishop.

When asked about his memories of representing the club with the popular former midfielder, the 53-year-old replied: “What a wonderful footballer and a great guy he was. He came into the club, when we were struggling in the old Division Two, League One. Andy Morrison came in and was an absolute leader for us, but ‘Bish’ came in and gave us a calmness and experience, because we were struggling.

“We were a big club in a division that we felt we shouldn’t have been in. It was everybody’s cup final, and that little bit of experience and calmness that Bish gave us on the ball, and experience in the changing room, and a lot of laughter in the changing room as well, [was vital].

“Bish was my roommate for a few years. There are a few stories I could tell, but probably not on camera. He was just a wonderful footballer as well. With games at that level, in the lower leagues, they are absolutely frantic, and it’s back and forward, back and forward. He was the one who put his foot on the ball and calmed everybody down, got us playing football, and created chances for us.

“Bish was in his mid-30s at the time when he came back to the club, and I loved playing with him from a striker’s point of view. I knew that if I made a run, I wouldn’t have to look to see where the ball was, because if Bish had it, I would have it exactly where I wanted it. I’d have loved to have played with him when he was younger in his career. He was at the back end of his career. I’m not saying his legs had gone, so don’t tell him that, but yeah, just a wonderful footballer.”

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