This is why Arsenal have failed to reproduce past successes – Nwankwo Kanu

Ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime London derby at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Arsenal, Nigeria legend and former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu has given is view on why the club have been struggling to replicate the successes they achieve during his time at the club.

Nwankwo Kanu told the Mirror that the present squad lacks self-believe as the team is built to rely on individuals, and that problem arises when the certain individuals fail to turn up.

“When I was at Arsenal, everybody in the team was a winner. We were all captains. We didn’t look up to one player.

“There was a mixture between the old and young, and people like Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira pushed everyone. We had leaders and we had the heart.

“From then, something has been missing, and that something is why they have not been winning leagues. When we were playing and went to a team, no matter who you are, we get a result. We could grind out games.”

Kanu is a member of the “Invincibles”, the Arsenal side that finished the 2003–04 season of the Barclays Premier League undefeated.

He played a total of 119 league games for Arsenal scoring on 37 occasions, winning the Premier League title in 2001–02, 2003–04, FA Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03 and FA Community Shield: 1999 while playing for the London club.