Former
Nigeria captain, Nwanwko Kanu, says his former club Arsenal, have what it takes
to defeat Premier League leaders, Chelsea in Saturday’s lunchtime London derby
at Stamford Bridge.
The former
striker featured for the Gunners in several games against Chelsea during his
five year spell at the club.
Kanu scored
a hat trick against Chelsea in 1999.
According to
the 40-year-old, the pressure is on Arsene Wenger’s men to get the desired
result against Antonio Conte’s high flying team at Stamford Bridge following
their defeat at home by Watford last weekend.
Kanu told
the Mirror, “The pressure is now on the whole team to go and get a result
because that is a crucial game for them.
“They have
to do whatever they have to do to get it.
“Chelsea
must be good to be where they are, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go and get
something. Now it is for the Arsenal players to show what they are made of.”
Kanu, an
Olympic gold medalist, reckons that the hat trick he scored against the Blues
in 1999 was his best ever.
He added,
“You live with that. If you ask me the greatest goal I have ever scored, that
is what I would say.”
The forward
who also represented Inter Milan and Ajax during his playing days, also notes
that over reliance on individuals has hampered Arsenal’s progress in recent
years.
He said,
“When I was at Arsenal, everybody in the team was a winner. We were all captains.
We didn’t look up to one player.
“There was a
mixture between the old and young, and people like Tony Adams and Patrick
Vieira pushed everyone. We had leaders and we had the heart.
“From then,
something has been missing, and that something is why they have not been
winning leagues. When we were playing and went to a team, no matter who you
are, we get a result. We could grind out games.”
In the
reverse fixture last year, Arsenal defeated Chelsea 3-0 at the Emirates
Stadium, but the Blues are now nine points clear going into the encounter.
(naijaloaded)
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