‘People don’t understand’… Nwankwo Kanu says £14m Arsenal man was the best player he ever played with

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In a little blast from the past, Nwankwo Kanu has now named the best player he ever played with during his time at Arsenal.

Kanu enjoyed a decorated career at Highbury under Arsene Wenger.

The Nigerian striker, who played for Ajax and Inter Milan before joining Arsenal, won two league titles and three FA Cups whilst in North London.

Kanu played alongside many of Arsenal’s greats in his 197 games for the club, and chose Patrick Vieira as the best of the lot.

Speaking to Sky Sports in a Q&A, Kanu thought Vieira was every striker’s dream.

When asked who was best to play alongside, he said: “Patrick Vieira, he works very hard for the team, but at the same time people don’t understand he’s the player that gives me all the balls.

“Anywhere I go, he knows what I can do, within a second he sees you, he just gives you the ball.

“No matter where you are he keeps supplying the ball to you, and as a striker you need the ball to perform – if you don’t have the ball, how can you perform?

“So you need those kinds of midfielders to supply you all the time with the ball and he does that.”

Nwankwo Kanu says Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira was the best he played with

Although he wasn’t primarily known for his goal-scoring at Arsenal, the club could probably do with a profile like his right now.

Kanu’s 44 goals in his 197 appearances may appear slightly modest, but he offered so much to Wenger’s teams.

Perhaps Kai Havertz could take a similar path if he’s given more opportunities up top in the coming months.

Although Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t get a result against Liverpool, the German’s performance was still very encouraging, even if it should have been littered with goals.

Of course, much like Kanu, Havertz would surely enjoy playing alongside a player like Vieira supplying him at Arsenal.

But even in this current team, Havertz does have a remarkable wealth of creativity around him – those players just need to find their confidence once again.

And speaking of Patrick Vieira, who eventually left the club in a £14m deal to Juventus, Arsenal are now said to be interested in signing a player who was previously compared to the legend.

Talks for Everton’s Amadou Onana seem to be progressing, and the player is very keen to join Arsenal.