Nwankwo Kanu

Add as preferred source on Google

Nwankwo Kanu might have not scored the amount of goals that the likes of Thierry Henry and Ian Wright did but, the Nigeria is undoubtedly amongst Arsenal’s greats.
Kanu joined Arsenal in February of 1999 for a fee of £4.5m from Italian giants Inter Milan but, it’s safe to say fans were not impressed with Arsene Wenger’s new signing.
Having only scored once while in Milan there were doubts, and coupled with his languid demeanour, he failed to woo Highbury crowds early on.
The Nigeria’s popularity was not helped on his debut, when he scored decided to run on to a ball back to ‘keeper to restart play, following in an injury, to assist Marc Overmars in an FA Cup tie against Sheffield United. Arsenal won 2-1 but, offered to replay the game due to the controversy surrounding the incident, which they also won.
As if Kanu didn’t already have enough of uphill battle, just three years previously he had surgery to replace an aortic valve in his heart after a defect was discovered during a medical examination. Despite having the successful surgery, that must have been a tough time for poor Kanu.
Despite all of this, he quickly turned the fans around, scoring his first goal for the club against Derby County, followed by strikes against Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and that lot from down the road, Tottenham Hotspur.
He became renowned for his impact from the bench, proving a match winner on many occasion, most famously at Stamford Bridge in the 1999/2000 season.
Arsenal were 2-0 down to Chelsea, a bit of a shock back then, before all the Russian billions, in a time that Chelsea fans pretend didn’t exist.
Kanu was having none of it though, and took it upon himself to drag Arsenal back into the game.
All he needed was 15 minutes.
The Nigerian scored one of the most sublime hat-tricks football has ever seen, completing the comeback with a ball roll past Chelsea ‘keeper Ed de Goey on the by-line, curling a shot past two defenders on the line, from the most outrageous of angles.
Seriously, if you haven’t seen it before, get on the old YouTube. Even if you have already seen it, go watch it again, it was that good.
Kanu bagged 17 goals in the 1999/2000 season, appearing less and less from the bench and more as a starter.
However, the emergence of Thierry Henry as the clubs first choice striker in the 2000/2001 season saw Kanu return to his former role of impact sub but, he never moaned about being confined to the bench.
2001/2002 saw the lanky forward pick up his first trophies for The Gunners, winning a Premier League and FA Cup double. He won the famous old trophy again the next season, and finished his career as part of the Invincibles side that won the Premier League, going the entire season unbeaten.
He left Highbury in the summer of 2004, joining West Brom on a free transfer at the end of his contract.
After a rough start, Kanu departed Highbury an Arsenal legend.
He may have only scored 44 goals in 198 appearance but, Gooners love for Kanu was about more than just goals.
The phrase ‘he’s got a great touch for a big man’ could not have been better suited to 6ft 5in Kanu. With a wonderful first touch and brilliant close control, his ungainly stride made him unpredictable, and despite his size, he seemed able to wriggle through even the smallest of gaps.
These attributes made him exciting to watch, something that the Highbury faithful always appreciated.
The appreciation was also mutual. Kanu often saluted the fans with a gun finger celebration as a tribute to clubs heritage and nickname, The Gunners. He is also fondly remembered for that cheeky smile of his that never ever appeared to leave his face.
Kanu was also one of the good guys of football, setting up the Kanu Heart Foundation in Africa to help people with conditions similar to his. Following retirement in 2012, he took up a role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, something he continues to do today.
Even now, at whatever age he may be, let’s be honest, no one has any idea, Kanu still possess the ability to win games on his own and wow the Arsenal crowd, scoring a hat-trick for an Arsenal legends side against Milan Glorie last summer.
Voted the 13th best Arsenal player of all time by the clubs fans, the love for Kanu is clear.
So, Kanu, we salute you as you once saluted us, legend.