'Nigerian Londoners look at Saka the same way we idolised Kanu' - Koleosos of Ezra Collective 

To celebrate Black History Month,  Femi and TJ Koleoso, childhood Gooners from 2023 Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet, Ezra Collective, have written a piece for the official website of Arsenal. 

Femi and TJ Koleoso revealed that they idolized Nwankwo Kanu - one of the most decorated Nigerian players of all time and from a golden age of Nigerian football that also included the likes of Austin Okocha and Taribo West.

The Koleosos believe that Arsenal's fanbase increased in Nigeria because they had an iconic Nigerian player representing the Gunners, Kanu. 

Kanu was a cult hero at Arsenal and won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the FA Charity Shield during his five-year association with the north London club.

The 1996 Olympics gold medalist and Champions League winner with Ajax Amsterdam is best remembered by Premier League fans for his sensational 15-minute hat-trick against Chelsea on October 23, 1999.

Arsenal have a rich history of outstanding black players and arguably the standout player in the current squad is cap-tied England international of Nigerian descent, Bukayo Saka.

The Koleosos wrote: "There are a whole lot of Nigerian Londoners right now who look at Bukayo Saka the same way we idolised Kanu.

"They look at him and think ‘he’s one of us’. It’s a very powerful thing to see someone who looks like you start for your team.

"It’s amazing for us to watch someone like Bukayo because he has the same background as us, which allows us to identify with him."

Saka was awarded the PFA men's Young Player of the Year award for his displays during the 2022-23 season, beating  Erling Haaland, Jacob Ramsey, Evan Ferguson and Moises Caicedo to the accolade. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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