Patrick Kluivert Picks Arsenal Legend In His Ultimate XI

By The Editor
on 13th February 2019

Patrick Kluivert reserved a place for Dennis Bergkamp in his ultimate XI…

Patrick Kluivert succeeded where Ashley Cole failed. Weeks after the former Arsenal full-back’s appearance on Monday Night Football in which he excluded Dennis Bergkamp from his ultimate XI, the former Newcastle United man didn’t repeat the egregious error.

Kluivert was tasked to pick an XI from players he’s played with throughout his career which was rather difficult for the former striker given the illustrious clubs he’s played for.

He was part of the Ajax side that won the European Cup in 1995 under Louis Van Gaal, before playing for the likes of Milan and Barcelona.

Also, Kluivert is one of the most devastating strikers Holland have ever produced and he nearly led his nation to World Cup glory in 1998 only for the 1988 European Champions to lose on penalties against Brazil in the semi-finals.

When asked why Bergkamp had to make his XI, Kluivert waxed lyrical over the Arsenal icon.

“Dennis I played with him in the Dutch national team and he is an artist,” Kluivert said on Monday Night Football.

“If you see the goal against Argentina in ’98, and many other goals – I can remember a goal for Arsenal when he flicked the ball around the defender.

“He is a player who knows where he is on the pitch and it’s so difficult to defend against him because he’s always one step quicker than the defender. He is not only a goalscorer but is also one who sees the person next to him.

“He is one of the best,” Kluivert concluded.

The final sentence sums the Arsenal icon up. He was one of a kind and one who almost transcended the club in terms of the level of respect he received as a pure footballer.

Arsene Wenger would often say that you can tell the quality of a player by how his teammates view him, and Bergkamp is often described as one of the best to play alongside his former colleagues.