The Arsenal football club has always given chances to players from Africa, most especially players of Nigerian descent.
These players of Nigerian descent have made significant contributions to the success of Arsenal over the years.
Futballnews brings your attention to these Arsenal players who made significant contributions to the success of the North London club.
1. Bukayo Saka
The Arsenal winger is one of the most intelligent players in the club history and he is of Nigerian descent. He was born in London after his parents, Yomi and Adenike Saka, moved to the state.
His full name is Bukayo Ayoyinka Temitayo Saka. It was revealed that the parents’ love for Arsenal football club was one of the key factors in their decision to migrate to London.
Saka was introduced to the Arsenal first-team squad by Unai Emery and developed into one of the most talented wingers in the Premier League.
Since making his debut for Arsenal, he has scored 58 goals in 226 appearances for the club. He has won the FA Cup and two community shields with the club.
2. Emmanuel Adebayor
The former Arsenal striker’s parents are both of Nigerian origin. His father’s name is Shadrach Adebayor, while his mother’s name is Hajia Adebayor.
Throughout his football career at the international level, Emmanuel Adebayor played for the Togo national team. In an interview with TVC, Adebayor revealed he is a pure Yoruba man.
During his playing time at Arsenal, Adebayor scored 62 goals in all competitions. Also, he failed to win a single trophy at the club.
3. Nwankwo Kanu
The former Super Eagles of Nigeria star was regarded as one of the finest players to have come from Africa because of his excellent goal-scoring ability.
Before the legendary striker joined Arsenal in 1999, he was famously recognised as a world-class player at Ajax and Inter Milan.
During his playing time at the North London side, the Nigerian scored 44 goals and created 32 assists in 197 matches. He won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and one Community Shield with the Gunners.
4. Alex Iwobi
The Super Eagles midfielder was only four years old when he moved to England. He is an Arsenal academy graduate like Bukayo Saka.
He scored 15 goals and created 24 assists in 149 appearances. Iwobi had a successful tenure at the club, winning the FA Cup and two Community Shields.
However, he failed to achieve legendary status at the North London club and was sold to Everton for £25.7 million in 2019. He was then the most expensive player to have departed from the North London club.
5. Folarin Balogun
The United States striker is of Nigerian descent. He was born in New York, United States of America. At the age of eight, he trained with the famous Arsenal academy.
His tenure at Gunners was not a successful one. The American striker scored two goals in 10 appearances for the Arsenal side.
He failed to win a single trophy for the North London side before he was sold to Ligue 1 side Monaco.
6. Chuba Akpom
The London-born striker was one of the best products of the Arsenal academy. The football star’s parents are from Nigeria. He was six years old when he joined the Arsenal academy.
He made his Arsenal debut under legendary manager Arsene Wenger. Chuba failed to score a single goal in 12 appearances for the Gunners.
