Next in our Golden Gunners series is the enigmatic and incredibly likeable Nwankwo Kanu. Signed in 1999 not long after Anelka's move to Real and just three years after major heart surgery, Kanu represented a bit of a gamble from Arsène Wenger, but one that happily paid off. In Kanu's three year spell at Inter, he managed just 12 games and one goal but Arsène looked back to his impressive spell at Ajax (in which he scored 25 goals in 54 appearances and won a Champions League medal) and decided he was worth the risk.
During his first full season at the club (1999-2000) he was at the peak of his ability, having picked up his 2nd African player of the year award, he went on to win many plaudits for his languid and unpredictable style, wonderful close control and touch with his enormous, size 15 feet. He scored 17 goals in 50 appearances that season, including a highly memorable and quite ridiculous hat-trick to turn defeat into victory against Chelsea.
Kanu won the double with Arsenal in 2002, the FA cup in 2003 and was part of the title-winning Invincibles team in 2004 although by this time, in his last season at the club, he rarely played, making just the minimum of ten appearances required to receive a winners medal. Despite falling out of the first team picture at Highbury, he remained popular with supporters and players and enjoyed a very warm reception whenever returning to play against Arsenal.
Kanu won the double with Arsenal in 2002, the FA cup in 2003 and was part of the title-winning Invincibles team in 2004 although by this time, in his last season at the club, he rarely played, making just the minimum of ten appearances required to receive a winners medal. Despite falling out of the first team picture at Highbury, he remained popular with supporters and players and enjoyed a very warm reception whenever returning to play against Arsenal.
Kanu is the second most capped Nigerian footballer, scoring 13 goals in 86 appearances and his list of honours is remarkable, including Champions League, UEFA cup, three FA Cup, two Premier League and Olympic gold winners medals. His popularity is Nigeria is understandably immense, made more so by his philanthropic work: after his major heart surgery, he set up the Kanu heart foundation, first to help young Africans with heart defects and then extended to helping the homeless.
In a 2008 poll of Arsenal fans, Kanu was voted Arsenal's 13th greatest former player, above such players as Merson, Smith, Dixon, Petit, Sol Campbell, Anelka and Keown - remarkable given he made almost half his Arsenal appearances from the bench. He is actually second only to Shola Ameobi in the list of most used substitutes in Premier League history. In my opinion this level of appreciation is a bit much but there are a few reasons that he finished so high. Putting aside the voting being weighted heavily towards more recent players, Kanu was immensely likeable; creating his own gunners celebration especially for us; he was so exciting and unusual to watch and capable of moments of inspiration and sheer brilliance.
Here are a few such moments which I rate as his best goals for the club:
4) This Backheel goal against Middlesbrough.
3) Cheeky as you like against Deportivo - puts the goalie on the floor without touching the ball
2) This glorious goal against Spurs - makes Luke Young look like a right mug.
1) And of course that hattrick goal against Chelsea
Although Kanu's 44 goals in 198 games for the club are not overwhelming, he is much-loved by Arsenal and Nigeria supporters because he was so entertaining. Just look at the way Arsène chuckled after that goal against Deportivo or those audacious goals against Tottenham and Middlesbrough - he was an absolute joy to watch.
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