Nigeria and Arsenal legend, Nwankwo Kanu, believes his successful stay at Arsenal helped many African players to ply their trades in the English Premier League.
The Super Eagles ex-international says he believes he was the first African who came to England and did well.
The retired footballer joined the Gunners 17 years ago at a time when the African influence on English football was nearly non-existent.
The 39-year-old ex-Nigerian skipper won two EPL titles and two FA Cups, netting 44 goals along the way, and believes his five-year stint in North London also helped raise the profile of the Premier League in Africa.
“I believe I was the first African player who came to England and did very well,” Kanu told the Arsenal website.
“After that, the doors were opened for African talents so, with Arsenal behind me and what we did with Arsenal, everybody now tends to follow the English league, and wants players to come and play in the English league.”
The report revealed that Kanu remains a staunch supporter of the Emirates-based side and also credited manager Arsene Wenger with helping turn his career around after he needed surgery for a heart defect, which derailed a three-year stint at Inter Milan.
“When I came over, I saw a good coach who saw the best in me. I was a good player because he made it easier for me to play,” Kanu adds.
“Everybody believes that English football is all about playing the ball up, not keeping it on the ground, but Arsene has his own idea of football and it made it easier for us.
“He wanted us to play football the right way, he wanted us to enjoy it by passing the ball around and that’s what we did.”
