Dennis Bergkamp makes Harry Kane confession as Arsenal told they ‘have to settle’

Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp has given his thoughts on strikers in the game, including Tottenham legend Harry Kane, with the Gunners striking options assessed

Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp has interestingly named Tottenham icon Harry Kane as a striker he would have loved to have played alongside.

Kane came up through the Spurs academy and went on to score 280 goals in 435 appearances for Arsenal’s North London rivals. He completed a move to Bayern Munich in 2023 and has scored an impressive 123 times in 129 appearances, cementing himself as one of the best strikers in the world.

Speaking on the Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet, Bergkamp was asked which striker he would have liked to play with. He said: “At the moment, the ideal strikers – how we knew them like Marco van Basten – it’s Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski.

“Lewandowski is at an age now where things don’t always come as smoothly, but those two have been phenomenal. And Karim Benzema – I used to teach young strikers a lot using his movement. It was unbelievable.

“I tried to put that into the heads of the strikers I worked with in the youth teams as well because his runs were amazing.”

The Arsenal legend also pointed to Kane when asked about the Gunners’ current striking options. Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres has been criticised for his output since joining the club.

The Sweden international has scored 13 times in 32 appearances in all competitions this season, while eight of those have come in the Premier League. Kai Havertz has been turned to as a versatile option up top, although he has been out injured before now for some time, and Mikel Merino has also filled in despite being primarily a midfielder.

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But Bergkamp has hinted that there are only so many world-class strikers available, with clubs having to settle for something different should they not have them in the squad. “The big ones, in my opinion, are Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski,” he said.

“Erling Haaland is, of course, there as well, but the big ones – they’re not around in the same way anymore, so you have to settle for a different style of football, or for a different type of striker – and that’s what you get now.

“You can’t be angry with players all over the world for not reaching the level of the strikers we talk about. It’s just not there.

“I’ve had this discussion a few times with my son and with other people. Who are the top strikers now?

“The kind of strikers we used to have. You don’t really find many who you can pass into feet, who can be part of the team, who are there for crosses.

“Because as a striker, you need to have it all. Not only finishing. You have to be a link-up player as well.”