Dennis Bergkamp believes Arsenal lack an out-and-out goalscorer and also admits he would like to return to coach in England.
Dutchman also reveals England coaching dream
Dennis Bergkamp believes the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer is his old club Arsenal's main weakness and also admits he would like to return to England one day as a coach.
The 42-year-old won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in a glittering 11-year career at the Gunners before retiring in 2006.
He has since returned to his native Holland where he is currently coaching at another one of his old teams, Ajax.
Bergkamp's departure from north London coincided with a decline in the club's fortunes and after a difficult start to the current season Arsene Wenger's men sit 15th in the table.
The Dutchman feels they lack a striker to support his countryman Robin van Persie but has backed his old manager Arsene Wenger to guide the team out of trouble.
"When I look at Robin van Persie, he is the front player, but he is better in my old role. They are missing an out-and-out goalscorer. Now they play with an extra midfielder instead," Bergkamp told the
Daily Mail.
"The midfielders are all the same sort of players. You need one who wants to get behind Van Persie.
"I know he's [Wenger] the one who will be struggling the most. But with his experience, it'll be okay."
Everything Possible
Bergkamp also feels the club should have done more to tempt another former Gunner, Patrick Vieira, back to the club in a coaching capacity.
The Frenchman retired from playing over the summer and became football development executive at Manchester City.
"There was talk of Patrick going to Arsenal during the summer. I would've done everything possible to get him there," added Bergkamp.
"Just to get him in and around the dressing room. It would have brought so much to the team."
Coaching Staff
Bergkamp also revealed a desire to return to England one day himself, though he ruled out becoming a manager in the future.
"The plan is to be settled here now I've built my house. But there is something that stays with me, something in my body that wants to go back to England one day as part of a coaching staff," he admitted.
"That is always in my mind. I don't miss specific things but I miss the feeling which I can't really explain. I haven't sold my house there yet.
"I've never seen myself as a manager. As a manager you have to put all your time into the job and that would be difficult for me. As a player I wanted to switch off at home and it's the same now. I would maybe feel trapped.
"You have to always be involved and, if you're not, you are not doing it right. I want to just drive home, switch off and spend time with my family."
