Bergkamp hits out at rotation policy

Dennis Bergkamp has criticised the rotation system employed by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.  

The Dutch striker, who cost Arsenal £7.5million in 1995, has signed a two-year extension to his Highbury contract.

But he has spent a lot of time on the bench this season and he has now spoken out against Wenger's policy to change the starting line-up on a weekly basis.

"I don't really know if the rotation system is working," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I think it's proven that it doesn't really work.

"It would be better if we just played the games. Certain times of the season we don't need it.

"It's important to have a big squad, that's for sure, but I don't know if it's the ideal situation when one day this team plays, the next day the other teams plays.

"I think it would be better to just give somebody a chance for a few games, otherwise, in and out every other game is a bit difficult I feel."

The 31-year-old admitted he has been frustrated on the sidelines, adding: "I still feel I can play at the same level as I did for years at Arsenal if I just get a chance. That's the problem, I don't get the chance for a few games and that's disappointing."

Bergkamp is relieved to at last have his footballing future settled after a year of negotiations with Arsenal.

However, he said signing the contract had been a difficult decision to make as he had felt not everyone at Highbury wanted him at the club.

"It was difficult. That's why it took such a long time, because I still feel that there is a lot of football in me and think that I can do a lot for Arsenal.

"The reason I had doubts, or course, is that I did not feel that everybody wanted me at the club.

"I had a few chats with the boss about it and, of course got the support from the fans, which was very important for me to make this decision. "