Dennis Bergkamp's agent has cast a shadow on the Dutchman's Arsenal future, claiming that his client is at a a loss to understand the club's attitude towards him.

Bergkamp signed a new contract at Highbury earlier this year, but has found himself largely restricted to a substitute's role this season, starting just three games so far.

The 32-year-old has repeatedly claimed that he is coming to terms with boss Arsene Wenger's rotation policy, but his representative Rob Jansen appears to have cast doubt on this.

"Dennis knows he has to be on the bench every now and again," Jansen said. "But he is seriously starting to wonder if Arsenal are trying to force him into a mood where he has to leave.

"Earlier this year the club offered him a new contract and put him under great pressure to stay in London. It was that pressure from Arsenal which convinced him he had a future at the club."

Since the arrival of Francis Jeffers in the summer, Bergkamp has found himself competing with four other strikers for two places.

Yet he has scored three times this season, all after coming off the bench, and his appearances have been restricted partly by his refusal to fly to European fixtures, and partly by an ankle injury, which has sidelined him for two weeks.