October 23 – Kanu Believe It! | On This Football Day

October 23 – Kanu Believe It!

THIS season Liverpool might have monopolised the late comeback, but they haven’t yet left it quite so late as Arsenal did today in 1999. With 15 minutes left the Gunners were 2-0 down to rivals Chelsea and it was looking like all three points were lost.

Arsenal’s summer signing Kanu had different ideas though, bagging one of the most dramatic hat-tricks ever seen in the Premiership.

Chelsea had been in a rich vein of form when they hosted their London rivals, having put five past both Manchester United and Galatasaray in their last two games. Thanks to headed goals from Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu it was looking like another big scalp for the Blues.

The match had been a scrappy affair, with eight yellow cards being issued by referee Alan Wilkie. Sitting in the stands were representatives from Fifa that were assessing England’s bid for the 2006 World Cup. Lord knows what they saw in Germany to sway them, because in the second half this match exploded into action as Arsenal awoke from their slumber.

Kanu bagged his first after 75 minutes with a predatory strike, then with seven minutes remaining he latched onto a Marc Overmars cross and slotted past Ed De Goey.

Like all good showmen the Nigerian saved his best until last. Deep into injury time he received the ball by the corner flag and was met by De Goey who was going on a bizarre walkabout. After dribbling past the Dutch keeper Kanu struck from an almost impossibly acute angle, firing into the roof of the net.

Arsenal had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and moved to joint top of the early Premiership table, level with Leeds United.

See Kanu bagging his hat-trick below and see what else happened in the world of football today here. We’ll be back tomorrow for one of our favourite bust-ups in recent years, so join us then.