Dennis Bergkamp: 'Arsenal are predictable, weak and lacking a winning mentality'

Feb 15, 2012 12:02:00 PM

The former Gunners striker condemns the current side as lacking in diversity, quality and character in comparison to the famed 'invincibles' who won the club's last title in 2004

Dennis Bergkamp has criticised the current Arsenal side ahead of Wednesday’s clash with AC Milan at the San Siro, labeling them one-dimensional and lacking in character.

Since Bergkamp’s departure in 2006 the Gunners have failed to win a trophy, and now find themselves in a fierce fight simply to ensure Champions League football next season.

The Dutchman stopped short of criticising former boss Arsene Wenger for the team’s decline, but admitted the current crop at the Emirates Stadium pales in comparison with the famed ‘invincibles’ squad which won the club’s last league title in 2004.

"I feel there are a lot of similar players there at the moment,” he told the Telegraph. “It needs to be more diverse.

“You need a few strong characters who can get the team going, in training as well as matches. You also need a few players who can make a difference in terms of scoring goals. I don’t feel there are enough of them."

"You look at the midfield and compare it with ours. We had Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires, Ray Parlour – when it wasn’t working for one of the big names, one of these could step up."

Arsenal have depended largely on talismanic captain Robin Van Persie for goals this season, and Bergkamp believes it is not healthy for any team to be so reliant on an individual.

"You can’t only depend on one or two players,” he added. “When they’re having an off day, you need someone else.”

How do you stay up to date with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com – your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game.

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Player Ratings: Siena 1-2 AC Milan
Goal was on hand to judge all the players as Allegri's men finished third in Serie A and secured a Champions League berth next season
Player Ratings: Barcelona 2-1 Valladolid
Goal rates the players on show as the newly-crowned Liga champions cruised past the challenge of Miroslav Djukic's men to keep up hopes of reaching 100 points
Arsenal hold their nerve in top-four battle
Arsene Wenger's side produced a clinical performance to secure a top-four Premier League finish but now they must kick on if they wish to challenge for honours next year
Player Ratings: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Laurent Koscielny's 52nd-minute volley secured the Gunners the win over Alan Pardew's side and made sure they would be playing Champions League football next season
Player Ratings: West Brom 5-5 Man Utd
Sir Alex Ferguson was given a farewell to remember, but certainly not for the right reasons as the Romelu Lukaku-led hosts battled back from three goals down to earn an unlikely point