Kanu wants more than a bit-part role on Arsenal stage

For much of Saturday's match at Highbury it seemed fortuitous that Arsenal have become used to playing with 10 men. It made them better equipped to deal with having Nwankwo Kanu in the team. The Nigerian, whose quick feet and back-to-goal intelligence once gave Arsenal an extra dimension, now more often got in their way. With the champions struggling to break down Bolton's well-organised resistance even the support who once adored him gave Kanu the bird.

The past 18 months have been tough for Kanu. Internationally, Nigeria have failed to match expectations. Domestically, he has been reduced to a fringe player by the emergence of Sylvain Wiltord and the revival of Dennis Bergkamp. There have been problems away from the game, too, including suffering regular burglaries.

This season even the luck of the draw is against Kanu. In the past he at least remained a key player in European competition because of Bergkamp's reluctance to fly. Then the Champions' League first group stage draw presented Bergkamp with a trio of fixtures accessible by car. The Dutchman is already on the road to Eindhoven for Wednesday's tie and has sketched out routes to Auxerre and Dortmund.

So Kanu has become one of the numerous overpaid, underused, bit-part players in the Premiership wings, more likely to get a splintered backside than a torn hamstring. Some, like Robbie Keane, Jari Litmanen and Paul Merson, move on, their desire to play strong enough to take a pay cut or a drop in status. Others, like Winston Bogarde, Titi Camara and Sergei Rebrov, hang on, prompting supporters to wonder whether they are motivated by the size of their pay slip rather than a determination to prove a doubting coach wrong.

Kanu claims to be in the latter group and on Saturday he made what may prove the first step towards doing so. Showing the mental courage that once enabled him to come back from heart surgery he kept showing for the ball, seeking to play himself back into some semblance of form. Gradually, it came. He had a flick header saved. He set up Francis Jeffers, who dallied too long. Then, deep into injury time, he seized on a loose ball to snatch Arsenal a winner.

His delight was understandable. Afterwards the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, was asked when Kanu last scored. He could not remember. Neither could anyone in the press corps. It was actually in April, which was not bad since this was only his second subsequent start. More pertinent it was a staggering 106 appearances since Kanu had scored a critical goal, one which turned a draw into a victory. That was the final goal of his dramatic hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October 1999.

"It was a relief," admitted Kanu. "The first half did not go as I would like but the players came up to me and told me to keep going. When that happens you can enjoy the game a bit better. I did not get the balls I want in the first half, and maybe I lost too many as well. It not easy when you are on the bench for so long. I got into the game more in the second half and it was a lucky goal for me."

Kanu has been linked with moves, but he added: "I am happy at Arsenal. The trainer is behind me. The fans love me. I'm happy in London. I don't want to leave. It has been frustrating reading that I do. It isn't true. It upsets me. I just want to work hard and try to get into the team. I have to be patient but I am confident I can do well. When I am ready to leave I will let everybody know but it is not that time yet. I want to stay and win the Champions' League with Arsenal."

"It was not an easy game for him," said Thierry Henry of Kanu. "We all tried to talk to him and keep him going. He got in great positions but it did not go right until his goal."

The Frenchman had his own problems, missing a penalty given after Gudni Bergsson tugged Freddie Ljungberg's shirt after 12 minutes. He then shot across the goal from close in after nipping between Bergsson and Jussi Jaaskelainen. He could not be denied for long though and, midway through the half, Bolton gave Ljungberg the space to receive Wiltord's pass, break forward then pick out Henry drifting behind Bergsson. He skipped round Jaaskelainen to score. Arsenal thus matched Chesterfield's 71-year record of scoring in 46 consecutive league games.

But Bolton are doughty competitors and they were given a route back when Gareth Farrelly's cross dipped over the startled David Seaman from wide on the left. Farrelly admitted it was a freak, but this is happening too often to Seaman, who said he "hoped" it had been deflected. It was not. The watching Tord Grip could not have been impressed. It may be significant that his boss, Sven Goran Eriksson, was accompanied by Ray Clemence, England's goalkeeping coach, as he saw David James keep a clean sheet at Upton Park.

With Arsenal's passing lacking its usual slickness and Jeffers more a sloth than a fox in the box a draw loomed. Then Ivan Campo, harshly booked for dissent already, stupidly tossed the ball away after Bergkamp had been tripped. At Martin Keown's prompting, the referee, David Pugh, gave a decision that looked like an old-fashioned "homer" and dismissed Campo. Like Youri Djorkaeff and Jay-Jay Okocha, Campo had given Bolton a touch of quality. Subsequently, they were unable to keep possession and eventually Ashley Cole swung the ball in, Henry caused problems, and Kanu grasped his shot at redemption.

Goals: Henry (25) 1-0; Farrelly (46) 1-1; Kanu (90) 2-1.

Arsenal (4-4-2): Seaman 4; Lauren 5 (Touré, 84), Keown 5, Campbell 6, Cole 6; Wiltord 5 (Jeffers 3, 67), Parlour 6, Gilberto 4, Ljungberg 6 (Bergkamp 6, 67); Kanu 5, Henry 8. Substitutes not used: Shaaban (gk), Luzhny.

Bolton Wanderers (4-1-4-1): Jaaskelainen 5; Barness 6, Bergsson 4, Whitlow 5, Charlton 6; Campo 5; Pedersen 3 (Ricketts 5, h-t), Frandsen 6, Farrelly 5, Djorkaeff 5 (Tofting, 80); Holdsworth 6 (Okocha 6, 65). Substitutes not used: Livesey, Poole (gk).

Referee: D Pugh (Merseyside) 4.

Booked: Arsenal: Keown. Bolton Wanderers: Campo, Bergsson, Holdsworth, Jaaskelainen. Sent-off: Campo.

Man of the match: Henry.

Attendance: 37,974.