10 Candidates to Be Arsenal's Next Dennis Bergkamp

Long have the glory days passed of a just a decade ago when Gunners fans could proudly flaunt their club over the other powerhouses in England.

The memory of the undefeated campaign in 2003-04 still brings a smile to the Arsenal faithful; however, those memories are beginning to dissolve as the years roll on. The absolute dominance of a side that fielded the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell branded and exhibited a beautiful style of football which not only produced results, but also demonstrated the splendour of the game.

Another master class in that squad, Dennis Bergkamp, was a player that fans certainly miss. His vision and execution has not been matched by many in Arsenal’s storied history. Over the past eight years, the Gunners have made attempts to recapture those memories in the English Premier League, but to the dismay of fans around London, they have not been able to reassert themselves as a viable championship contender.

In order for the Gunners to once again compete for a title, they must develop a second-coming of Dennis Bergkamp. His influence both on and off the field was imperative to their success. Replacing him will be no simple task, but there are certainly some potential candidates, both currently on the roster and in the rumour mills, that may have a shot at developing into the next “Non-Flying Dutchman.”

Robin Van Persie

The obvious choice. RVP has been on fire this year, scoring sensational goals and playing at a high level consistently. His ability to fend off injury this season has been a sigh of relief for Gunners fans. Too many of his seasons have concluded with a visit to the hospital, but this campaign appears to be different.

If he can keep up this pace, he will contend for the title of most dangerous striker in the Premier League.

Marouane Chamakh

The Moroccan who played his early years with Bordeaux in France. Two years ago, Chamakh became the first player in the history of the Champions League to score in six consecutive matches, a very impressive feat.

He has shown signs of promise in his time with Arsenal. If he can better adapt to Wenger’s system, he will provide a magnificent attacking threat.

Andrei Arshavin

The Russian superstar, in the eyes of many, has not lived up to his potential since his arrival to the Emirates. There have been games where he has been nothing short of spectacular (sorry, Liverpool fans). Unfortunately, he has not been able to maintain his dynamic style of play over the course of his tenure. During this hectic transfer window, teams from his own country have even revealed interest in signing him because they feel he is currently disposable in the Arsenal ranks.

That being said, we have witnessed flashes of brilliance for both club and country, and perhaps there is still hope for Arshavin to become a dominant force in the EPL going forward.

Eden Hazard

His name has been swirling around Arsenal gossip sites for the past few weeks. Many feel he will add a much-needed punch to the attack and be a great striking companion to RVP. The young Belgian, an attacking midfielder, would be a timely replacement for Bergkamp and can fit well in to Wenger’s style of football.

With Manchester United and Chelsea also showing interest in Hazard, Arsenal should realize that he is the real deal. Their team will be much improved if they can sign and develop the young footballer. He has stated that he would like to play in England, so Wenger must be aggressive in pursuing him before he gets gobbled up by one of the other big clubs.

Mario Gotze

The German star currently playing at Borussia Dortmund has also been approached by Wenger. He is currently content playing in Germany, but this is one to keep on the radar. Still only a teenager, Gotze’s best football is still ahead of him.

If Arsenal can ink his signature and begin to show team success over the next few years, he may be a staple in the Arsenal attacking-midfield role for the next several years. He has exhibited fantastic creativity in the midfield, so potential Bergkamp comparisons may not be too far-fetched.

Theo Walcott

Theo has been a household name ever since his surprise call up to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He has suffered some unfortunate injury setbacks over the past few years, which is why many fans might give Walcott an "incomplete" grade while assessing his career thus far at Arsenal. He still boasts amazing speed and has shown his ability to take on defenders and create scoring chances.

However, there is still much potential yet to be fulfilled. If he can remain healthy and string one or two successful seasons together, he may become one of the experienced leaders at Arsenal within the next half-decade.

Aaron Ramsey

Ramsey, the 21-year-old Welsh midfielder, has emerged as the hopeful replacement for Cesc Fabregas in the midfield. He has already shown his ability to set up strikers with crisp and accurate passes. Fabregas made a living of controlling the midfield while with the Gunners, so Wenger is hoping Aaron Ramsey will emerge as the new stronghold in the middle of the pitch.

He will continue to improve as he gets more integrated into first-team action and gets a few more seasons under his belt.

Jack Wilshere

A product of the Arsenal Youth Academy, Wilshire has already captured the PFA Young Player of the Year Award. As well, he has caught the eye of England’s coaches and will assuredly be an influential midfielder for years to come. Unfortunately, he has suffered a devastating injury this year and is set to be out for the remainder of the season.

Most Arsenal fans will tell you that he has the potential to be the next big star at the Emirates. His composure and accuracy on the pitch will serve Arsenal well in to the future. Perhaps watching some more film of Bergkamp will help transition him in to the next All-Star of the EPL.

Wilfried Zaha

The English footballer, originally from the Ivory Coast, is currently being pursued by both Arsenal and Liverpool. He has incredible speed and has shown promise as a teenager. He is playing at a high level for Crystal Palace, and he's looked impressive for England’s U-19 squad.

Wenger has a knack for spotting young talent, so this may very well be another opportunity for Arsenal to bring in another upstart Englishman.

Dennis Bergkamp

Maybe there is just no way to replace a player of Bergkamp’s stature and ability. He was truly a magician on the field for both club and country. Fans of the Gunners will remember his spectacular wonder-goal against Newcastle into the next century.

He was an icon from the Highbury days, and we may not see another player bring the same vision and footwork for quite some time. Either way, for Arsenal to once again become a championship contender, they must do their best to develop their new version of Dennis Bergkamp.