Bergkamp leaps to Wiltord's defence

Bergkamp says Wiltord is popular at Arsenal

Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp has denied that team-mate Sylvain Wiltord has an attitude problem.

Reports suggested that Wiltord went missing before the final match of the season against Southampton, following a row with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

The 26-year-old French international is unhappy at his sporadic first-team appearances and has gained a reputation for a lack of punctuality.

I've seen him working really hard and his attitude is second to none

  Dennis Bergkamp on Sylvain Wiltord

But Bergkamp said neither the manager nor the players would accept a player with a poor attitude.

"I've seen loads of suggestions that Sylvain has a bad attitude problem. This is rubbish and anyone inside the camp would tell you that," Bergkamp told icons.com.

"I've no complaints about Sylvain whatsoever. I've played a lot with Wiltord this season and we've created a good understanding and partnership on the field.

"In training, I've seen him working really hard and his attitude is second to none.

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"What I can say categorically is that if any player at this club had half the attitude problem that Wiltord is supposed to have, they wouldn't last five minutes.

"Of course, Mr Wenger would never accept such a thing. But more crucially, the players would never accept such a thing either.

"The player would be rejected immediately and would have to move. The fact Sylvain is still about and popular in the group shows that there's no problem with him.

"Stories are just being created. The times he was supposed to have snubbed training and run off to France are a good example of this.

"I know that Sylvain was given permission to go, for definite.

"Sylvain is a world-class player and a popular member of the Arsenal group.

"He was the main reason we reached the FA Cup final last season and I'm sure there's more to come from him next season at Arsenal."