Kanu's special hat-trick vs Chelsea : Babayaro warned teammates to be wary of skillful striker

Yesterday February 17, 2022 made it twenty three years Arsenal signed one of the most successful Nigerian players at club and international level, Nwankwo Kanu.

The 1996 Olympics gold medalist and Champions League winner with Ajax Amsterdam went on to win two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Charity Shield in his five-year association with the Gunners.

On a personal level, the highlight of his career at Arsenal was his special hat-trick against Chelsea in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 1999.

Kanu came up against another Nigerian star Celestine Babayaro, with whom he played with in the Golden Eaglets class of 1993, 1996 Dream Team and Super Eagles.

The former Nigeria captain has revealed that Babayaro warned his Chelsea teammates about the threat he can pose but the Blues player let their guard down in the closing minutes, allowing the Gunners number 25 to complete his hat-trick.

In stoppage time, Kanu scored from the acutest of angles after dummying Blues goalkeeper Ed de Goey.

Speaking to Arsenal Player, Kanu said : "Before the game the Nigerian player Babayaro was telling them 'be careful of Kanu and he got one skill that he drags the ball'.

"When we came in the defenders said to me 'today we know what you are going to do, you are not going to do it' so we were laughing over it and then the game started.

"But I knew 2-2 they forgot all the stuff they knew about Kanu. To dribble him on that line (de Goey) is very, very difficult but I did it full of confidence and believing in yourself."

Kanu scored 44 goals in 196 appearances for Arsenal while providing 29 assists before joining West Brom on a free transfer in July 2004.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com