Bergkamp backs young guns

DENNIS BERGKAMP is backing Arsenal to mount a sustained challenge to Chelsea’s domination of the Barclays Premiership in the coming season.

Bergkamp, the classy Dutch striker who has called time on his professional career after 11 years at Arsenal, claims he can see cracks appearing in Jose Mourinho’s all-stars despite the arrival of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack at Stamford Bridge.

And although they have lost his unique array of skills, Bergkamp claims the young Gunners he is leaving behind can go from strength to strength under manager Arsene Wenger and skipper Thierry Henry.

“I think last year gave a lot of teams some confidence because Chelsea dropped points here and there and lost a few games they weren’t expected to,” said the 37-year-old.

“Liverpool, Manchester United and us will be up there this year as well. There is more of a chance for the other teams this year than in the last two years.

“They’ve bought Shevchenko and they already have the likes of Drogba, but you can’t play them all. You can have six world-class strikers, but you can only play two, or maybe three, at a time.

“From us being favourites two years ago it’s different now, and maybe we are not favourites anymore.

“But I feel with this team, every year they are getting stronger and stronger, they are more experienced and many of them played in the World Cup, and if they can bring that to this team I really think they can challenge.

“Last season our Champions League run gave us a lot of confidence and at times we took that into the league.

Bergkamp also admitted he would like Ashley Cole to stay.

Cole has criticised the club for their handling of the infamous “tapping up” affair with Chelsea, but Bergkamp is hopeful the 25-year-old will settle his differences with the Arsenal hierarchy.

Bergkamp said: “I believe it’s special for a team and the fans to have a player who is one of their own.

“It’s good for the club to have a player who has come through the ranks and he’s obviously a great player, as he showed again at the World Cup.”

Arsenal yesterday opened their £390 million (€570m) new home, the Emirates Stadium, 66 days after bidding farewell to Highbury.

The stunning 60,000-capacity ground will this weekend play host to its first game when Ajax provide the opposition in Bergkamp’s sold-out testimonial.