Check Out 15 Nigerians Who Have Played For Arsenal
Arsenal is one club that has had luck with a host of African players from Kanu Nwankwo to Kolo Toure to Lauren to Emmanuel Adebayor to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
But our focus today is solely on Nigerian players, who have plied their trade at the club.
1. Kanu Nwankwo: Fondly called ‘Papillo,’ Kanu Nwankwo was a part of the 2004 ‘Invincibles’ Arsenal squad. He is also famous for the hattrick he scored against Chelsea in 1999.
2. Alex Iwobi: A nephew to football legend Jay Jay Okocha, 23-year old Alexander Chuka Iwobi made 149 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 15 goals before moving to Everton. He won the FA cup with Arsenal in 2017.
3. Chuba Akpom: Nigerian footballer Chuba Akpom current plays for Greek club PAOK. He represented Arsenal at the youth level.
4. Xavier Amaechi: Born on January 5, 2001, Xavier Casmier Amaechi is a British-Nigerian footballer who played for the Arsenal youth team before moving to German club Hamburger SV.
5. Bukayo Saka: 18-year old Saka is a British-Nigerian footballer who plays as a left back or winger for EPL club Arsenal.
6. Kelechi Nwakali: Nigerian football star Kelechi Nwakali played for the Arsenal U23 team. He currently plays for Spanish club SD Huesca.
7. Folarin Balogun: Balogun played for the Arsenal youth team where he scored 25 goals.
8. Tolaji Bola: 21-year old Nigerian defender Tolaji Bola proved his worth in the Arsenal U23 team, where he recorded four assists.
9. Aaron Eyoma: Born on September 22, 1997, Aaron Eyoma played for Arsenal youth team in the right midfield position.
10. James Olayinka: 19-year old Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka is a British-Nigerian midfielder who plays for Northampton Town, on loan from Arsenal.
11. Joseph Olowu: Born on 27 November 1999, Joseph Olowu played for the Arsenal U23 team. He currently plays for Irish club Cork City.
12. Tobi Omole: 20-year old Tobi Omole played as a left back, a central defender and a defensive midfielder while representing Arsenal’s U21 and U23 teams.
13 Xavier Amaechi
Born on January 5, 2001, Xavier Casmier Amaechi is a British-Nigerian footballer who played for the Arsenal youth team before moving to German club Hamburger SV.
A thrilling dribbler with a wand of a left foot, Xavier’s capable of playing on either wing but is particularly dangerous cutting in from the right.
14 Miguel Azeez
Azeez has played 6 league matches for the Arsenal U18 team in the 2019-20 campaign with a goal to his name. He has also made an appearance for the Steve Bould-led U23 team this season.
Azeez’s versatility in different roles, aided by his exciting technique, should give him a decent chance of emulating that trajectory. He has long held a positive reputation within the Arsenal academy and was handed his debut for the Under 18s when he was still 15.
Although he has represented the 3-Lions U 17 side, scoring 12 goals in 14 appearances, Azeez is still eligible to play for Nigeria at the senior level.
