DENNIS BERGKAMP was today attempting to come to terms with the fact that his lifelong dream of FA Cup Final glory will not become reality this season. Late yesterday afternoon, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger instructed the Highbury Press office to release a simple statement. It read: ‘Dennis Bergkamp will not be taking part in tomorrow's FA Cup Final.'

Bergkamp has failed to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in a Premiership match against Derby on April 29 and the news is a bitter blow for the sensational Dutch striker, who has spoken often and at length about his desperate wish to play in the English season's showpiece game. I'm sorry, but I don't want to say anything apart from the fact that it's so disappointing for me, was all that the player would say at Arsenal's Hertfordshire headquarters as he broke the bad news to his family and friends first. The club's leading goalscorer this season with 22 strikes was clearly upset at being forced out of the match and his manager was quick to underline his own personal sympathy for the player.

"Of course we are very disappointed that Dennis cannot participate tomorrow, Wenger explained. He had his final test this morning and it was a severe one - as it had to be. But there was pain in his leg and we knew before the test was over that it was no good for him. I didn't want to be proved right after saying last week that I thought he wouldn't make it, but I was never over-optimistic. It had improved a lot this week and the medical staff were very hopeful that he would do it. He desperately wanted to play and