Kanu earns praises after hattrick for Arsenal Legends

Arsenal fans are waxing lyrical over the breathtaking display of Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu in a charity game on Saturday.

Kanu made a majestic return to the Emirates as he netted a hattrick in the game between Arsenal legends and selected AC Milan ex stars.

Kanu, who was at the unveiling of Star partnership with Arsenal on Thursday in Lagos, rose from the bench to give the hosts the lead with a well-placed header on 27 minutes, before Christian Vieri bullied Nigel Winterburn on the line to force an equaliser.

Arsenal’s official website reported, “The goal immediately prompted chants of, ‘Wenger, Wenger, sign him up!’

“The Nigerian superstar very much still has ‘it’, and one eye-catching roll to turn Dario Simic was classic Kanu, before he drilled a fierce shot inches over.”

Kanu broke the deadlock with a deft header over Abbiati into the top corner. Two minutes before the break, Vieri bundled home the equaliser.

With a lot of the players slowing down, Kanu got his second – again with his head in the 69th minute after Pires was fouled by Eranio on the edge of the box and Kanu converted Boa Morte’s cross.

‘Papilo’ got his third from the penalty spot after Massaro fouled Freddie Ljungberg. Kanu stroked it into the right hand side of the net with Dida diving the wrong way.

Pires scored Arsenal’s fourth but Vieiri scored from his penalty rebound after the kick was initially saved by Jens Lehman. Arsenal ran out convincing 4-2 winners.