History

GGG48: Dennis Bergkamp v Sunderland, 1997

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Dennis Bergkamp was always going to feature in this list. The question is: how often?

His first contribution is a special one. This goal is perhaps overlooked by some Arsenal fans because it was scored in a pretty run-of-the-mill FA Cup replay and footage of it is hard to come by. But it really does encapsulate what made Bergkamp such a magnificent player.

A blood-and-thunder cup tie at Roker Park is no place for the faint-hearted but Bergkamp's serenity shone through the storm with an exquisite piece of skill to open the scoring a minute into the second half.

The move started with Nigel Winterburn's throw on the left. He exchanged passes with Patrick Vieira and found Paul Merson, who moved into the left channel and picked out Bergkamp 20 yards from goal.

For once the Dutch master lost control of the ball but he regained it with a classy double drag-back. Now facing the goal but faced with a defender, Bergkamp clipped a curling effort around his opponent, beyond the keeper Lionel Perez and into the top corner.

Peter Reid, in charge of Arsenal's opponents at the time, admitted afterwards: "I starting clapping myself, until I realised I was Sunderland's manager."