'I believe this Arsenal side have rewritten all the rules'

If F Scott Fitzgerald is right when he says that genius is the ability to put into effect what is in your mind, then Dennis Bergkamp must qualify twice over. Once for being able to execute the plans, but also for having the audacious ideas in the first place. What, for example, possessed the Dutchman to attempt one of the most daring moves ever witnessed on a football pitch against Newcastle United last March? Do not ask Nikos Dabizas, the defender that night, who is still trying to understand how Bergkamp sent the ball around him one way with a deft touch, while spinning around him the other, before slotting home from eight yards. "Pure genius," the Greek centre-back has since conceded.

Bergkamp is back in Toon today for what he describes as "Arsenal's most important League game of the season so far", although any repeat of last year's wonder goal is highly unlikely. Instead, the Dutchman will be concentrating on his less high-profile, yet arguably more important, duties as chief provider. It is a role, he says, that suits him. Taking chances still provides the ultimate buzz, but offering goals comes a pretty close second. That may seem like a strange concession for a player who made his name as an out-and-out striker, but Bergkamp has long been aware that sharing is a vital part of football. "I get a kick from giving goals," he says, half-dreaming about his latest killer pass. "For me it's a great moment when your ball splits the defence and leaves your striker one-on-one with the goalkeeper. It's not the same thrill as scoring, but it's still a wonderful feeling."

Bergkamp's first taste of sharing came just over a decade ago during the group match against Germany at the 1992 European Championships. There are 72 minutes on the clock and Aaron Winter is preparing to cross into the German box. He has two options: one is Marco van Basten, the world's best striker; the other is a young forward called Dennis Bergkamp. Van Basten makes an excellent run to the near post to get himself in a goalscoring position, but, sensing that Bergkamp is better placed to finish, points behind him towards his striking partner.

"It's one of those football moments," says Bergkamp, who netted an open header to seal the 3-1 victory, "because here was a top striker making the run and then not being selfish. That took vision but also a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the good of the team. It was special, and it taught me a lot. Since then, I've learned how important it is to have a good partnership between two forwards. You have to feel that the other one deserves a goal."

Bergkamp adds: "If anything, I think that I'm not selfish enough at times. But I'm happy with the way I play these days. When I first started, I was more the main striker who was supposed to score goals. But now I look around me and I see Thierry [Henry], Robert [Pires] and Sylvain [Wiltord], so I know that side of things will be OK. In fact, I feel that I am part of something really special. I don't want to get too philosophical, but I honestly think that this Arsenal side have rewritten the rules of football. The modern game is meant to be tighter than ever, and yet we are scoring goals galore."

Well, Henry is. "Thierry is an incredible player," Bergkamp says. "I played with the likes of Marco and Ian [Wright], but Thierry is the most complete striker I've known; I'll be very surprised if he doesn't win player of the year. He has it all: skill, pace, strength, aggression, vision, and selfishness. Providing him with goals is a joy."

Ask Bergkamp about a specific pass and he will talk passionately about it, reliving the moment like an excited schoolboy. Make no mistake, the Dutchman is proud of his achievements in England. And so he should be. In an age when foreign footballers are as common as club versus country rows, it is sometimes difficult to remember that they were once a rare breed. Bergkamp was one of the first high-profile imports to join the Premier League and, while his decision is more than vindicated seven-and-a-half years on, he admits he was taking a risk at the time. "I'll never forget that I was one of the first foreigners to come here," Bergkamp says, "and if in a small way I contributed to the development of the League, then I am very proud of that. As a pioneer here, my memories will not be lost."

Neither will he ever forget his reasons for choosing England. "It was always a dream of mine to be part of this League," he says. "It just so happened that I made the move in 1995, but I would have done it some time." While Bergkamp insists that he has always had a love for English football, he is not convinced that all other imports have such honest motives. "Some of those players definitely come here for the money," he says. "That is only human, I guess, but it is a pity. I often feel quite protective of the League; like a child who doesn't want to share with others. I've often looked at other foreign players and thought, 'You have no right to be here – I've put a lot of work in to prove that foreigners can make a difference in England, so why are you coming here to ruin that?' "

No matter what the next generation of Dutch players achieve on these shores, Bergkamp will always be remembered as one of the best two or three imports of the Premiership's maiden years. Eric Cantona and Gianfranco Zola aside, none have made such an impact. What has perhaps made the Dutchman's contribution even more special is that he has stayed at the top of his game for all but a few months of his Arsenal career. The only blip came in the 2000-01 season, when he so went off the boil that many feared his days in England were numbered. As candid as ever, Bergkamp now admits that he, too, was worried about his future at the highest level.

"It was a very difficult time for me," he recalls. "The weird thing is that I had just retired from international football [in the wake of Holland's semi-final defeat by Italy at Euro 2000] to concentrate on Arsenal, but came back from my summer break to be told by the manager that there would be a rotation policy at the club. His philosophy was he had enough players to always put out his strongest and fittest XI."

Bergkamp, who ended the campaign with just five goals to his name, adds: "That was a big shock for me. It was not something that I had ever been used to in my career. On top of that, I suddenly got an Achilles injury that wouldn't heal. I had never had any real problems before, so it threw me a bit. For the first time in my life, I started questioning myself. I even considered moving to another club."

The self-doubting did not last long, though. "It's not my style to roll over and give up," he insists. "One day, something just came from within me and I thought, 'Hang on a minute, I'm not finished yet. There's still more for me to do here. I still have so much to offer and I want to go on'."

It is testament to his resolve that, following a long summer break in 2001, Bergkamp came back stronger than ever to inspire Arsenal to their second Double in four years. Better still, he did so without ever whingeing, choosing instead to let his feet do the talking. "I was determined to persuade the boss that no one but me should play in the hole behind Thierry," he recalls. "When I did that and then we won the Double, I think I was at my happiest ever."

Today, Bergkamp can look back on the experience as a positive, but at the time he was hurting inside. "Forget the image of the Iceman and stuff like that," he says. "Not being in the team was terrible and I had to dig really deep into parts that no one can see from the outside in order to get back to my best. I knew that if I worked hard my talent would get me into the side, and that's why I was never going to walk. Eventually, the boss put me on the right of midfield, before finally reinstating me in my favourite position. Winning the argu-ment was a great feeling, although I must confess that a part of me is slightly embarrassed that this period ever existed."

Bergkamp need only replay his goal against Newcastle last season to remind himself of his true worth. Even those of us who were lucky enough to see the goal live are still scratching our heads as to how it was done. "I'm not too sure myself," he says. "I definitely meant it, but there were lots of things that made it possible. For example, some people have asked me why I went around him [Dabizas] one way and sent the ball the other. Well, that was decided for me, really, because my body was already turning in one direction. The intention was always there, but you need a bit of luck for something that special to come off.

"The funny thing is that I didn't immediately realise how good a goal it was. I was happy when it came off, but I had no idea how great it looked. It was only when I saw my team-mates' eyes during the celebration that I worked things out."

According to a poll currently being conducted to find the Premiership goal of the decade, that moment of Bergkamp genius lies in second place, just behind David Beckham's shot from inside his own half against Wimbledon in August 1996. There are still a few weeks of voting remaining, and the Dutchman is nevertheless confident of walking away with the award. "It's always very difficult to compare," he says diplomatically, "because everyone has their own idea about what good football is. I like that, because it means that the game remains interesting. For me personally, as a technical player, I like those goals where you have to do something a bit special with a touch or something. That's why I like my goals best."

Bergkamp is very much a thinking footballer. He thinks about his passes, and he thinks about his goals, too. So, while Ronald de Boer's long crossfield pass was travelling towards him in the dying moments of the 1998 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, Bergkamp was planning the instant control with the right foot, the flick inside Robert Ayala, and the finish into the far corner of the net. In other words, Bergkamp was visualising the goal of the tournament before he had scored it.

"It sounds strange," says the 34-year-old whose favourite strike of all time actually came in a League match at Leicester City 11 months before the near carbon-copy against Argentina, "but I just know in advance where the space is and what my options will be. Of course, I am taking a chance because I have no idea whether or not it is going to come off, but at least I'm prepared to have a go. There are a lot of players who would not dare try these things, but taking a chance is my kind of football."

Listening to Bergkamp, one wonders where this image of the distant Iceman originated. "It certainly didn't come from me," he says. "It's the same thing as my flying. People are always spreading stories about why I don't get into planes or why I might change my mind. Well, forget it. I will never fly again, and the club are happy about this. It's typical of the English press to want to put a label on everyone. Yes, I'm serious on the pitch, but that is the reason why I'm successful. Off the field, though, I have just as much fun as the others. In fact, I am often the one cracking jokes or trying to cheer up someone who might be feeling down. Honestly, it's just misconceptions." So it is. Bergkamp, though, should not lose sleep over this. After all, did F Scott Fitzgerald's compatriot Ralph W Emerson not once say that to be great is to be misunderstood?

Biography: Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp

Born: 10 May 1969 in Amsterdam

Family: married to Henrita, daughter Estelle Deborah, son Mitchel.

Previous clubs: Ajax Amsterdam (1986-93), Internazionale (1993-95).

Joined Arsenal: 3 July 1995 (£7.5m)

Holland debut: 26 September 1990 v Italy in Palermo.

Honours: Dutch Championship 1990, Dutch Cup 1987, 1993, European Cup-Winners' Cup 1987, Uefa Cup 1992 (all with Ajax), 1994 (Inter). English Premiership 1998, English FA Cup 1998 (both Arsenal).

Trivia: Was named after Manchester United's Denis Law, but takes two "n's" because it was thought the name was too close to Denise. Grew up with Glenn Hoddle as his idol, but family were Manchester United fans.