Arsenal legend Bergkamp ‘hurts’ at current state of the club

The Gunners icon helped to make the north London outfit Premier League heavyweights, but there has been a slip down the standings in recent years

Bergkamp is hoping to see the Spaniard succeed, allowing him to numb the pain of recent regression.

“It (Arsenal) is different, of course, from what I was used to with all the English players and a few foreign players,” Bergkamp told the official YouTube channel of fellow Arsenal icon Ian Wright.

“It’s now probably turned the other way around. Sometimes it’s good, but a lot of times, you don’t really feel that it’s the Arsenal how we know it, with the passion and a few players who make the difference.

“It’s different. It’s difficult to say if it’s better or worse, well better, of course, is always shown in trophies, which aren’t there at the moment.

“On one hand, there are so many clubs who have improved so quickly to a high level, whereas Arsenal, maybe improved, but not to that level.

“It’s hard, it’s difficult, it hurts sometimes because you feel about Arsenal that they should do better, but I’m still hoping.”

Bergkamp has no desire to be a manager, but the former Ajax assistant would welcome the chance to fill a coaching post in familiar surroundings.

He added: “At the moment it’s a bit difficult, family-wise, I’ve still got a young family, we’re settled [in the Netherlands], but as the kids move on, they’ve got their own plan in life.

“Once that happens, I would love to return into coaching, especially in an academy or be maybe even part of a first team.

“I don’t see myself as a head coach, I enjoy being part of a staff, but not being the main man.”