AFCON 2025
When Arsenal wished Kanu Nwankwo a happy birthday on social media today, it was yet again a reminder of the lasting legacy the Nigerian striker left at the North London club.
Although he spent just over five years at Arsenal, Kanu became one of the Premier League’s most beloved forwards, admired for his extraordinary technique, composure under pressure, and ability to produce moments of magic when his team needed them most.
Signed by Arsène Wenger in 1999, Kanu played alongside some of Arsenal’s greatest players and helped the club enjoy one of the most successful periods in its history.
Here are five things every football fan should know about Kanu’s time with the Gunners.
1. Arsenal Took a Gamble That Paid Off
When Arsenal signed Kanu from Inter Milan in February 1999 for a fee reported to be around £4.15 million, there were understandable doubts.
The Nigerian had endured a difficult spell in Italy after undergoing life-saving heart surgery shortly after joining Inter. He had barely featured in Serie A, leaving many uncertain whether he could ever return to his best.
The French manager, Arsene Wenger believed Kanu’s unique qualities, his intelligence, technical ability, creativity, and versatility made him an ideal addition to Arsenal’s attack. Wenger envisioned a forward capable of playing with his back to goal, linking midfield and attack, while also providing a different dimension from the club’s existing strikers.
Kanu quickly proved he still possessed the brilliance that had made him one of Africa’s finest footballers.
2. He Became One of Arsenal’s Most Effective Impact Players
Kanu may not have been an automatic starter throughout his Arsenal career, but he consistently influenced matches whenever called upon.
Between 1999 and 2004, he made 197 appearances across all competitions, scoring 44 goals.
In the Premier League alone, he featured 119 times, finding the net 30 times.
Interestingly, nearly half of his appearances came as a substitute. Competition for places was fierce, with Arsenal boasting attacking stars such as Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Freddie Ljungberg.
Yet Kanu embraced his role.
His calmness, creativity, and ability to unlock stubborn defences made him one of the Premier League’s most dangerous players off the bench. Whether scoring crucial goals or creating chances for teammates, he regularly changed games in Arsenal’s favour.
3. He Won Every Major Domestic Honour with the Gunners
Success followed Kanu throughout his Arsenal career.
The Nigerian striker collected multiple major trophies during one of the club’s greatest eras.
His honours include:
- Premier League: 2001–02 and 2003–04
- FA Cup: 2001–02 and 2002–03
- Community Shield: 1999
Kanu was also a member of Arsenal’s legendary “Invincibles” squad that went unbeaten throughout the 2003–04 Premier League season.
Although his involvement that campaign was more limited, making 10 league appearances, he remained an important squad member and contributed to one of the greatest achievements in English football history.
Few African players can boast being part of an unbeaten Premier League-winning team.
4. His Chelsea Hat-Trick Remains One of Arsenal’s Greatest Comebacks
Every Arsenal supporter remembers where Kanu truly announced himself.
On 23 October 1999, Arsenal travelled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea and found themselves 2-0 down with little more than 15 minutes remaining.
What followed became Premier League folklore.
Kanu scored a stunning 15-minute hat-trick, inspiring Arsenal to an unforgettable 3-2 victory.
His third goal remains one of the league’s most iconic finishes.
After rounding goalkeeper Ed de Goey near the byline, Kanu somehow squeezed the ball into the net from an almost impossible angle, completing one of the greatest individual comebacks the Premier League has ever witnessed.
More than two decades later, the goal continues to feature in Arsenal highlight reels and is widely regarded as the defining moment of Kanu’s Arsenal career.
5. His Unique Style Made Him Unlike Any Other Striker
Standing at 1.97 metres (6 ft 6 in), Kanu possessed the physical presence of a traditional target man.
Yet his game was anything but conventional.
He combined remarkable close control with elegant footwork, quick thinking, and incredible improvisation. Whether using delicate flicks, backheels, toe-pokes or unexpected passes, Kanu consistently found creative solutions in crowded penalty areas.
Despite competing with world-class forwards like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, he carved out his own identity at Arsenal.
He became the player supporters trusted to produce something extraordinary when matches appeared destined for a draw or defeat.
When his contract expired in the summer of 2004, Kanu departed on a free transfer to West Bromwich Albion, bringing an end to a memorable chapter in Arsenal’s history.
