DB10 and all that

And that's it. He's gone. It's over. A chapter has closed in the history of Arsenal Football Club.

Dennis Bergkamp has retired.

I said a lot about my personal feelings on this subject in my last post so I'm not going to regurgitate it. Onwards, my brothers and sisters. Onward to the future. And that future is the Emirates Stadium.

Having seen the action from Saturday's opening match at the Emirates I have to say I was very impressed with the stadium. I, like most Gooners, have been following it's construction for over two years now, checking arsenal.com every day for new information, new pictures, new milestones in its completion, and now it's seen its first game. I used to go past it on the train every day last autumn / winter on my way to work, and it's hard to see big progress when you're seeing just a little every day, but now it's finished I think we all realise that it was worth the wait.

And what an occasion to mark it. DB10's testimonial had a carnival affair from start to finish, and having Wim Bergkamp (who has been battling cancer recently) there to kick the match off was a lovely touch, and one completely befitting the man as we knew him: classy to the last.

As for highlights, Klass-Jan Huntelaar opened the scoring for Ajax before Thierry opened his Emirates account, followed by the winner from Kanu, back to pay his respects. Having Marco van Basten, Johan Cruyff and Frank Rijkaard (Champions League issues aside) all on the pitch again was a sight to see, and yet another mark of how well respected Dennis Bergkamp is, and how highly revered he is in Holland.

However, the highlight of the match had to be Gilles "Black Belt" Grimandi. For those that don't know what I'm on about, see the video below:



He left the club over five years ago, but still the Gooner spirit runs through him. He saw a Spud trying to get on the scoresheet on Dennis' special say and said "fuck that, I'm having the bastard."

It's the little gallic shrug he does just afterwards that makes it poetry.

Legend.

In other news we're apparently after Alou Diarra, Liverpool reject, who now plies his trade with Lens. His agent is talking up a move but, as always with Arsene who is one sly goose, we'll have to wait and see. We certainly still need more steel in the centre with Diaby out til Christmas and Song being rubbish, and the price looks a little more palatable than some other players we've been linked with.

Here's hoping for a centre half soon too.