Kanu says his Premier League arrival opened the doors for other Africans

Jan. 18, 1999 is the day that the Premier League opened its doors to a flood of African talent, according to the man who joined Arsenal that Monday, Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu.

"I believe I was the first (African) person who came to England and did very well," Kanu told the club website. "After that the doors opened for African talent so, with Arsenal behind me and what we did with Arsenal, everybody now tends to follow the English league."

Kanu isn't exactly correct, with stars from the continent such as South Africa's Lucas Radebe, Zimbabwe's Bruce Grobbelaar, and Ghana's Tony Yeboah joining the division some time before him. Even Christopher Wreh, a former Gunners' flop and Liberian native, plundered a Premier League medal before Kanu.

Under Arsene Wenger, Kanu became a superstar, winning two league titles and three FA Cups during his time in England with Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion, and Portsmouth.

"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 said.

"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."

Kanu moved to Arsenal after an ill-fated spell with Inter Milan, but found it much easier to acclimatise to the English game.

"It was very easy to adjust when you saw the fans," Kanu said. "The supporters are behind you and they love you and what you are doing and that means you have to do more. If you keep doing more, they keep loving you and it was very easy for them to adopt me.

"I had the skills and the tricks the fans really love. When I left Arsenal I still had the fans on my mind and since then I've been supporting the club."