FA Cup: Sheffield United Coach Recollects Kanu's Controversial Assist For Marc Overmars' Goal

Ahead of Arsenal's trip to the Bramall Lane for Sunday's FA Cup quarterfinal meeting against Sheffield United, manager of the Blades, Chris Wilder has recollected Nwankwo Kanu's controversial assist for Marc Overmars' goal when both teams met in the competition back in February 1999.

Alan Kelly's clearance was put into touch to allow Sheffield United striker Lee Morris to receive treatment at the other end of the pitch.

Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour intended to give the ball back with his throw-in as it's the convention but Nwankwo Kanu, eleven minutes into his debut, misunderstood the situation and Marc Overmar's instinctive reaction was to score with ten minutes remaining.

The Gunners coached by Arsene Wenger decided on a sporting solution and offered a rematch which was again won by them.

"There have been a couple of instances against Arsenal in the Cup, the one at the old Highbury ground when Kanu decided to go his own way," the Sheffield United coach was quoted as saying by the Mirror.

"That was quite an interesting afternoon! I was at that game. I went to a lot of ­Sheffield United games.

"I must have been dropped so many times when I was at Rotherham, ­Bradford and Notts County to allow me to go to all these games!

"Games against Arsenal, we’ve had a decent run at it. They’ve been very, very intense and quite tight. I’m not expecting anything ­different on Sunday and yeah, it would be great to win this time."

A two-time African Footballer of the Year, Kanu won the FA Cup three times during his playing days in England.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : twitter.com/papilokanu