Dennis Bergkamp has confessed that it can be painful watching Arsenal when comparing the current team to his great side, but the iconic former striker is hopeful that Unai Emery will bring success.
Though Arsenal sit third in the Premier League table and have a 100 per cent record in the Europa League, there remains a section of the support who are frustrated with Emery’s management and style of play.
Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United was a reminder of just how far the two clubs have fallen and both Emery and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer received criticism for the grim stalemate that played out at Old Trafford.
Earlier this week, Arsene Wenger underlined Emery’s ‘responsibility’ to play attractive football, but insisted he still ‘supports’ the Spaniard and his project at the Emirates.
While Bergkamp, like Wenger, has refused to criticise Emery’s Arsenal reign, he admits that the club appear to be lacking the ‘passion’ of yesteryear.
‘It’s different of course to what I was used to, with English players and a few foreign, now it’s moved the other way,’ the legendary Dutchman told Ian Wright’s official YouTube channel.
‘Sometimes it’s good but a lot of times you don’t really feel that it’s Arsenal as we know it. You know, with the passion and a few players that make a difference.
‘It’s difficult to say whether it is better or worse but better is always shown in trophies, which aren’t there at the moment.
‘On the one hand, there are so many clubs who improved so quickly to a high level, whereas Arsenal, maybe improved, but not to that level.
‘It’s hard, it’s difficult and it hurts sometimes.
‘You feel sometimes that Arsenal should do better but I’m still hoping.’
Wenger believes Arsenal are still some way from challenging this season and has backed Liverpool to end their 30-year wait for the title.
‘At the moment you don’t look too much at the position because the points difference is very small with anybody else,’ Wenger told SPORF.
‘You draw, you’re 7th. You win a game, you’re 3rd.
‘I don’t think [Arsenal can challenge for the title] at the moment on what I’ve seen. Liverpool is too far ahead for everybody else.
‘Man City looks to me to have the best potential to fight against Liverpool, but as long as long you’re not too far away you can hope.’
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