Nwankwo Kanu said scoring a hat-trick for Arsenal Legends against Milan Glorie at Emirates Stadium was a “special” moment for him.
The Nigerian superstar broke the deadlock with a well-placed header, nodded in a second and then slotted home his third from the penalty spot.
Robert Pires rounded off the scoring and Kanu said it had been a fantastic day for everyone involved.
“This is special because of The Arsenal Foundation, what they are doing and
the work they want to achieve,” Kanu said.
“It’s a special hat-trick. It is always, always good to see the supporters and to entertain them!”
The game – in aid of The Arsenal Foundation – saw a sell-out crowd treated to an exhibition of football as two star-studded sides rolled back the years in north London.
From Kanu’s hat-trick, to Ray Parlour’s brief cameo and Nigel Winterburn and Paolo Di Canio’s re-enactment of their 1998 ‘clash’, this had something for everyone.
Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg proved just as incisive as during their pomp, and the pair combined brilliantly for the former’s late goal that prompted the biggest cheer of the day.
Jens Lehmann saved a late penalty from Christian Vieri, but the former Italian international poked home the rebound for his second goal of the afternoon.
But it could not take the gloss off a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in north London that will live long in the memory.
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