DENNIS BERGKAMP – Leicester v Arsenal, 97/98 | Retro Goal

When Dennis Bergkamp left Inter Milan to join Arsenal in June 1995 for a transfer fee in the region of £7.5 million^, he became manager Bruce Rioch’s first signingfor the Gunners. But it was the appointment of Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager in September of the following year that marked the real turning point for the Dutchman. Bergkamp was a key member of the Arsenal tem that won the double in Wenger’s first full season in charge in 1997/1998. On 23 August 1997 he landed a spectacular hat-trick against Leicester City at Filbert Street that included this effort he later described as his favourite for the Gunners. That month Bergkamp was voted first, second and third in Match of the Day’s Goal of the Month competition – a unique feat. In all he scored 120 times in 423 games for Arsenal. He was famously named after his father’s favourite footballer Denis Law, but Dutch law meant his christian name had to be spelt with an extra ‘n’.