Only Three Starts : Wenger Explains Why He Benched Kanu In Final Year At Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has explained why former Nigeria international Nwankwo Kanu found game time difficult to come by in the final year of his contract with the Gunners.

Kanu managed only three starts for the Emirates outfit in the Premier League during the 2003-2004 season, whereas he made 25 appearances in all competitions the previous season.

When Wenger was asked why Wiltord and Kanu barely played in the final year of their contracts in 2004, the Frenchman told arsenal.com : Every situation is different. Sometimes you have players who run out of contract because you do not want to extend them. That’s a bit different.

''Nobody knows if Sanchez will not extend his contract here. The performance on the day does not depend on the length of the contract. ''

Wenger added : ''If that was true, you would sign everybody for 20 years and then you would be happy. What is important is that you perform when you go out there.

''I would rather have a longer conversation about that because I would like to have a good look back at all the contract that we’ve signed.

''I’m not convinced that the length of the contract has any impact on the performance of any player.''

Nwankwo Kanu was on the books of Arsenal for five and a half years after transferring from Italian powerhouse Inter Milan in 1999.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : arsenal.com