Arsenal legend and former Nigeria international Nwankwo Kanu has thrown his weight behind manager Mikel Arteta, insisting he deserves greater appreciation for the transformation he has overseen at the Premier League club.
Kanu, who remains one of Arsenal’s most celebrated former players after helping the Gunners win two PL titles and two FA Cups, believes Arteta has restored Arsenal to the level where they can consistently challenge for major honours.
The former striker also played a key role in some of the club’s memorable successes under Arsene Wenger, making his assessment of the current Arsenal side particularly significant.
Speaking on Brila Media’s Breakfast show ‘No Holds Barred’, Kanu pointed to Arteta’s record in recent seasons, noting that consistently finishing among the Premier League’s top teams is evidence of the manager’s quality.
“If you look at Arteta’s record, he came second in the league twice. It’s not easy, so there must be something special about him.”
Kanu said Arsenal’s style of play and steady progress under Arteta have been visible to everyone, but questioned why the Spanish coach is not always given the credit he deserves.
“Everybody can see the progress Arsenal have made, but I don’t think Arteta gets enough credit for the job he’s doing.”
The 1996 Olympic gold medalist expressed confidence that Arsenal will be even stronger in the upcoming season, citing the continued development of the squad and the club’s ambition to compete at the highest level.
“This season, they’re going to be even better because the team is getting stronger every day.”
Reflecting on Arsenal’s performances in Europe last season, Kanu described the Gunners as one of the competition’s standout teams, praising the quality they displayed against elite opposition.
However, he believes the club must now take the final step by converting those performances into continental success.
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“If you look at Arsenal last season, they were the best team in that tournament (UCL).
“Whenever they played, they showed their quality. But they should be more focused on the Champions League now.”
Kanu went further, insisting the Gunners had the quality to lift Europe’s biggest club trophy.
“Arsenal should have won the Champions League. With that style of football and the players they have, they could have.”
Arteta has overseen a remarkable revival since taking charge of Arsenal, guiding the club back into the UCL and re-establishing them as genuine contenders in both domestic and European competitions.
While trophies remain the ultimate measure of success, Kanu believes the foundations have already been laid, with Arsenal now well-positioned to compete for the biggest trophies in the seasons ahead.
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