ANR

Waiting for Kanu

by Myles Palmer

Kanu is a methodical centre forward who grew up in the Ajax 3-4-3 system. He did nothing at Inter, so forget his time in Milan. His career at Ajax is more illuminating.

Ajax had a very academic, patient style. Short passing, not much dribbling, positional interchanges, occasional balls over the top.

In the Ajax system the wingers hug the touchline. They rarely come inside, and the centre forward rarely goes wide. The four midfielders play in a diamond. And the man at the front of the diamond is the one who gets all the shots at goal. He is the cutting edge, the diamond man.

When Bergkamp played for Ajax, he was the diamond man. When Bergkamp left, Litmanen took over as the diamond man. Litmanen, a Finn, a former striker, became an attacking midfielder. He cruised around the last third, came deep to link play, made angled runs into both sides of the box.

Always in contact with his wingers, his midfielders and his centre forward, Litmanen sniffed out dangerous positions and finished clinically. He was small, sharp and mobile.

Kanu was bigger, stronger, much more static, playing mostly with his back to goal. In the Ajax system, Kanu did less running than the referee. He laid the ball off first time, often to his right winger. But he could hold it up as well.

In 1995 Kanu was an 18-year old substitute against mighty Milan in the European Cup Final. He replaced Seedorf after 53 minutes. It was 0-0.

Kluivert replaced Litmanen after 76. The giant Desailly, playing in midfield, had dominated the little Finn. So Ajax coach Louis Van Gaal put on two tall subs against two small centrebacks, Baresi and Costacurta.

Eventually, after 84 minutes, Kluivert scored the winning goal. Moral of the story? Size matters.

Kanu started the 1996 European Cup Final against Juventus in Rome, ahead of Kluivert who was coming back from a cartilage op. It went to extra-time and Kanu played 120 minutes, but did not take a penalty. Davids took the first pen, and missed.J uve won the shoot-out 4-2.

So Kanu is a solid target man, a bit like Mark Bright or Dion Dublin. More skilful than Dublin, but not a prolific goalscorer. He doesn't have blinding pace like Anelka.

He is not as wasteful as Anelka or Wrighty because he had good habits drilled into him as a 17-year old. Kanu is too lanky to be really agile. But he has a very good touch and a powerful shot in both feet.

In a tight game he is content to play an unglamorous role. Not a flashy player like Ian Wright, an annoying hit-or-miss type. Just when a defence thinks it has him sussed out, Kanu will turn suddenly and lash in a shot.

Kanu at £4 million is a revolutionary purchase for Wenger. Why ? Because he represents Plan B. Arsenal have needed a Plan B. They have been one-dimensional.

Win the ball, zoom down the field, leave the last defender for dead, and bang it in. Plan A is fantastic when it works. But it does not always work. Arsenal's strikers don't pass to the midfielders very often. Most of their goals come from fast, explosive moves by the strikers.

Mr Wenger likes to see goals scored by speed-merchants outpacing the defence and going one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

But opponents are getting wise to his greyhound strikers. Kanu should give Arsenal a presence in the box. That has been missing.

It is a miracle they have done so well without such a presence.

Bergkamp plays 99% of his football outside the box. He almost never heads the ball inside the box. Anelka does not make the near-post runs in the box that a centre forward should make. Because he did not grow up as a centre forward. He probably grew up playing WITH a No. 9, as Bergkamp did.

Arsenal have lacked a presence in the box since Wrighty left, although Kanu is a different kind of presence. The Nigerian will be good for Petit and Parlour because they can play off him. He will give the ball back to them. And Overmars will want to play one-twos with his old mate.

It will be interesting to see how quickly Kanu shapes up. He is tall and technical and has good habits. He doesn't give the ball away as much as Wright and he doesn't waste as many promising positions as Anelka.

Not spectacular, but effective. Bottom line? Kanu is a player Arsenal need. But don't expect too much too soon.

He has to adjust to the 100 m.p.h football of the Premiership. That is hard for any foreigner, let alone a striker who has only played one game for Inter this season. Ajax were the most patient team in Europe, while Arsenal are among the most impatient.

Ajax were neat and tidy, Arsenal are dynamic and incisive. Clearly, Wenger did not buy Kanu so that Arsenal could start playing slow-motion football like Ajax.

Yes, Wenger likes skilful play, but he loves athletic, thrustful attacking,
and energetic, determined defending.

Wenger only really purrs if Arsenal play a high-tempo game, slice through the opposition like cheesewire, score early and run them off their feet.

He thinks that if Arsenal play as they can do and should do, they should dictate most of their games.

So Kanu is unlikely to score more than six goals this season. But he will provide assists.

He will help Arsenal score more goals than they scored August-to-January.

If he does that, Wenger will be happy.

January 23rd 1999.






	Waiting for Kanu by Myles Palmer
	Kanu is a methodical centre forward who grew up in the Ajax 3-4-3 system. He did nothing at Inter, so forget his time in Milan. His career at Ajax is more illuminating. Ajax had a very academic, patient style. Short passing, not much dribbling, positional interchanges, occasional balls over the top. In the Ajax system the wingers hug the touchline. They rarely come inside, and the centre forward rarely goes wide. The four midfielders play in a diamond. And the man at the front of the diamond is the one who gets all the shots at goal. He is the cutting edge, the diamond man. When Bergkamp played for Ajax, he was the diamond man. When Bergkamp left, Litmanen took over as the diamond man. Litmanen, a Finn, a former striker, became an attacking midfielder. He cruised around the last third, came deep to link play, made angled runs into both sides of the box. Always in contact with his wingers, his midfielders and his centre forward, Litmanen sniffed out dangerous positions and finished clinically. He was small, sharp and mobile. Kanu was bigger, stronger, much more static, playing mostly with his back to goal. In the Ajax system, Kanu did less running than the referee. He laid the ball off first time, often to his right winger. But he could hold it up as well. In 1995 Kanu was an 18-year old substitute against mighty Milan in the European Cup Final. He replaced Seedorf after 53 minutes. It was 0-0. Kluivert replaced Litmanen after 76. The giant Desailly, playing in midfield, had dominated the little Finn. So Ajax coach Louis Van Gaal put on two tall subs against two small centrebacks, Baresi and Costacurta. Eventually, after 84 minutes, Kluivert scored the winning goal. Moral of the story? Size matters. Kanu started the 1996 European Cup Final against Juventus in Rome, ahead of Kluivert who was coming back from a cartilage op. It went to extra-time and Kanu played 120 minutes, but did not take a penalty. Davids took the first pen, and missed.J uve won the shoot-out 4-2. So Kanu is a solid target man, a bit like Mark Bright or Dion Dublin. More skilful than Dublin, but not a prolific goalscorer. He doesn't have blinding pace like Anelka. He is not as wasteful as Anelka or Wrighty because he had good habits drilled into him as a 17-year old. Kanu is too lanky to be really agile. But he has a very good touch and a powerful shot in both feet. In a tight game he is content to play an unglamorous role. Not a flashy player like Ian Wright, an annoying hit-or-miss type. Just when a defence thinks it has him sussed out, Kanu will turn suddenly and lash in a shot. Kanu at £4 million is a revolutionary purchase for Wenger. Why ? Because he represents Plan B. Arsenal have needed a Plan B. They have been one-dimensional. Win the ball, zoom down the field, leave the last defender for dead, and bang it in. Plan A is fantastic when it works. But it does not always work. Arsenal's strikers don't pass to the midfielders very often. Most of their goals come from fast, explosive moves by the strikers. Mr Wenger likes to see goals scored by speed-merchants outpacing the defence and going one-on-one with the goalkeeper. But opponents are getting wise to his greyhound strikers. Kanu should give Arsenal a presence in the box. That has been missing. It is a miracle they have done so well without such a presence. Bergkamp plays 99% of his football outside the box. He almost never heads the ball inside the box. Anelka does not make the near-post runs in the box that a centre forward should make. Because he did not grow up as a centre forward. He probably grew up playing WITH a No. 9, as Bergkamp did. Arsenal have lacked a presence in the box since Wrighty left, although Kanu is a different kind of presence. The Nigerian will be good for Petit and Parlour because they can play off him. He will give the ball back to them. And Overmars will want to play one-twos with his old mate. It will be interesting to see how quickly Kanu shapes up. He is tall and technical and has good habits. He doesn't give the ball away as much as Wright and he doesn't waste as many promising positions as Anelka. Not spectacular, but effective. Bottom line? Kanu is a player Arsenal need. But don't expect too much too soon. He has to adjust to the 100 m.p.h football of the Premiership. That is hard for any foreigner, let alone a striker who has only played one game for Inter this season. Ajax were the most patient team in Europe, while Arsenal are among the most impatient. Ajax were neat and tidy, Arsenal are dynamic and incisive. Clearly, Wenger did not buy Kanu so that Arsenal could start playing slow-motion football like Ajax. Yes, Wenger likes skilful play, but he loves athletic, thrustful attacking, and energetic, determined defending. Wenger only really purrs if Arsenal play a high-tempo game, slice through the opposition like cheesewire, score early and run them off their feet. He thinks that if Arsenal play as they can do and should do, they should dictate most of their games. So Kanu is unlikely to score more than six goals this season. But he will provide assists. He will help Arsenal score more goals than they scored August-to-January. If he does that, Wenger will be happy. *January 23rd 1999.*