Reports: Arsenal to offer Dennis Bergkamp assistant coach position

The Arsenal coaching carousel continues to spin around. Today, it’s reports that Mikel Arteta is set to offer Dennis Bergkamp a position on his coaching staff. Bergkamp most recently coached in the Ajax system. He was involved with both the first team and the youth program before being let go in 2017. He recently said that he’d like to get back into coaching.

With Freddie Ljungberg leaving to pursue head coaching opportunities, the “club legend as assistant coach” spot at Arsenal is open. I know little about Bergkamp’s coaching acumen, but he would definitely command respect based on his playing success.

But with the defense being Arsenal’s Achilles heel the past few seasons and young centerbacks in William Saliba and perhaps Gabriel Magalhaes coming through, perhaps the Gunners would be better served by a former centerback sitting next to Mikel Arteta (current assistant Steve Round was a fullback). Bergkamp, should he join Arteta’s staff, would join recent addition Andreas Georgeson, a set-piece specialist coach who joined the Gunners from Brentford a few days ago.

I wish I had more of a take on Bergkamp’s potential appointment. Would he be a good assistant coach? Who knows. Would it be a nice nostalgia add? Absolutely. I supposed my take is if Mikel Arteta wants him on the staff, I’ll trust his decision.