Dennis Bergkamp warns Arsenal against cautious title mentality

Dennis Bergkamp believes Arsenal remain well placed to win the Premier League this season, but has warned Mikel Arteta’s side against slipping into a cautious “let’s not make a mistake” mentality as the title race tightens.

The former Arsenal forward was speaking after another dramatic weekend in the title run-in, which saw the Gunners maintain a six-point lead at the top despite Manchester City’s late comeback win over Liverpool at Anfield. With a full round of midweek fixtures ahead of the FA Cup fourth round, Arsenal’s advantage could be reduced before they return to league action away at Brentford.

Even so, Bergkamp is unconvinced Arsenal’s rivals have the consistency required to deny them.

Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Bergkamp suggested that while City remain the most credible threat, the chasing pack lack the depth to sustain a prolonged challenge.

“I wouldn’t be too worried because I feel the other teams aren’t strong enough at this moment,” Bergkamp said. “Manchester City may be coming there, but I don’t think other teams could catch them because they are going to drop points as well.”

Aston Villa, now nine points behind after a recent dip in form, were also dismissed as unlikely to last the distance. Bergkamp pointed to the physical and mental demands still to come, with all the leading contenders juggling domestic and European commitments.

“The big games are yet to come. The difficult period is yet to come for all the teams, because they are all still in the Champions League and fighting on.”

Despite his optimism, Bergkamp issued a clear note of caution. Drawing on his own experience under Arsène Wenger, he stressed the importance of maintaining attacking intent rather than protecting a lead psychologically.

“The danger is that people start to talk about the last few seasons,” he said. “If the players let that come to you, then they will know.”

Bergkamp recalled Wenger’s familiar message during Arsenal’s most successful periods.

“I know what Arsène always said: ‘Every game is a final, just focus on the next game’. That is the main thing now.”

The former Netherlands international believes there are subtle signs Arsenal must guard against becoming overly conservative.

“The only thing I would say is the intensity of the first few months and the excitement,” Bergkamp added. “It looks sometimes now like, ‘let’s not make a mistake’.

“And in football, if you are at the top, if you want to be a champion, you can’t rely on that mentality.”

Having won the Premier League three times with Arsenal, including as part of the historic ‘Invincibles’ side, Bergkamp’s warning carries weight. Title-winning teams, he suggests, are defined as much by bravery as control.

Having followed Arsenal closely this season, their best performances have come when they play on instinct rather than calculation. However, it remains too early to draw firm conclusions, with decisive fixtures still ahead and pressure only set to increase.

Arsenal face Brentford next in the league, a fixture that could come with reduced margin for error depending on midweek results. With Champions League commitments also on the horizon, squad management and mindset will be crucial.

If Arsenal maintain the attacking confidence that defined the first half of their campaign, Bergkamp believes the title is firmly within reach. If caution creeps in, however, the pressure could shift quickly.

Do Arsenal need to take more risks to finish the job, or is control the smarter route?