In the football world, there are moments that go beyond the logic and imagination limits. The legendary goal of Dennis Bergkamp against Newcastle in March 2002 was such a moment. But many people still wonder: Does Bergkamp intend to do so, or is it just a surprisingly beautiful luck?
Real grass artist
Dennis Bergkamp does not need that goal to be considered a pitch artist. He was a symbol from before. With a calm appearance, smooth play and legs as programmed to create art, Bergkamp is the perfect representative for the beautiful football school.
The former Dutch player once scored from a distance of 40 meters, each creating the balls that no one saw, and once made the audience stand up with just a subtle touch.
But in that treasure, the goal against Newcastle on March 2, 2002 is the peak of beauty and mystery. It was not only a spectacular goal, but also a phenomenon that made the fans constantly debate: “Does he really intend?”
The ball makes the whole world shocked
11 minutes match between Newcastle and Arsenal at St. James' Park. Robert Pires launched a pass from the middle of the pitch to the middle, towards Bergkamp, pressing the face of the Greek center -back, Nikos Dizabas. In the moment, Bergkamp turned with a touch with his left foot, brought the ball around the right side of the Dizabas, while he himself turned around to the left – and only took a beat to catch the ball, the shot diagonally defeated Shay Given.
The whole stadium was stunned. TV viewers are dumbfounded. And Daizas did not understand what just happened. A moment of football magic. Immediately after the match, a series of experts and fans began to argue: Will Bergkamp really aware of what they are doing?
Up to now, more than 20 years have passed, that question has not cooled down. One part is confident that it is a product of fast reflexes and a little luck. “He turned around but did not seem to see the ball after the first touch,” a Newcastle fans wrote on the forum. “It's like an accidental touch that becomes a masterpiece.”
However, if you look at Bergkamp's football style, that argument seems absurd. He is not a player model based on luck. Each touch of Bergkamp, from Ajax to Inter and Arsenal, has the appearance of careful calculations. It is the football of wisdom, of the sense of space and superior time.
Bergkamp himself later shared: “I have practiced it many times in my mind. I know Dizizas is close from behind, and I have to create a processing phase that makes him lose direction.
If Bergkamp is real, and there is no reason to doubt him, then that goal is not coincidence, but the result of genius intuition and virtual reflexes. “He always played football in his mind before playing with his foot.”
Daizas, who was turned into a “art victim”
In that moment, Nikos Dizabas became … a picture frame for Bergkamp's masterpiece. But he was not angry or bitter. In contrast, Dizabas accepted the truth as part of football.
“It happened so fast,” Dizabas told in a recent interview. “I didn't think I was overtaken and could not do anything. We were fiercely disputed, but he touched the ball in an unbelievable way. At that time, I just thought: 'I was in the right position, but I could not do anything.'
There is an interesting detail: Some time after that match, Dizizas had a serious car accident but miraculous survival. He considered both moments, was “pierced with nose” by Bergkamp and overcame death, as the times that fate showed him: there were things that could not be controlled.
The heritage of the strange goal
Since 2002, the Premier League has witnessed hundreds of beautiful goals. But not many goals are classified as “immortal” like an outer cheek and then turn like Bergkamp's magic. It is not only beautiful, but also suggests many layers of intelligence, intuition, improvisation and the so -called “art of random”.
That goal often participated in the elections “The most beautiful goal in Premier League history”, “Arsenal's top moment”, and in viral clips on social networks whenever they have the opportunity to mention “football like ballet”. For Arsenal, it is the embodiment of the golden age, where each goal is philosophical.
And with Dennis Bergkamp, he never flew for fear of aircraft, but always made the ball fly at his own will, which is the most eloquent proof for the manifesto that he pursues for a lifetime: football is art, and each player can become an artist if it is sophisticated.
In a world that is increasingly prioritizing the speed and fitness, Bergkamp's goal is a reminder that sometimes sophistication, a smart touch and a cold head can create miracles.
That moment, as an X-Files file there was no final solution, would still live forever in the minds of fans, not only because of its beauty, but also because of the mysterious permanent mystery behind the question: He really intended? With Bergkamp, perhaps the answer is not important. By art, sometimes, no explanation. It just needs to be felt.
