These three players all have a knack for scoring from the bench.
Arsenal managed to salvage a draw at Old Trafford thanks to a late, late goal from substitute Olivier Giroud.
The Frenchman is now among Arsenal’s best-ever goalscoring substitutes so, with that in mind, let’s take a look at Arsenal’s top three ‘supersubs’ in the Premier League era.
Nicklas Bendtner
While the Dane was never quite good enough to be the full-time starting striker for the Gunners, he certainly provided goals from the bench – nine, to be precise.
Perhaps most memorably, Bendtner was called upon during a North London Derby. As he was running onto the field, Cesc Fabregas was preparing to take a corner. Just seconds after entering the fray, Bendtner nodded home the winner for the Gunners in the 76th minute.
Later in his career, on his return to the Arsenal setup, he came off the bench and smashed home an 88th minute goal to break the deadlock on New Year’s Day in 2014.
Nicklas Bendnter celebrates his goal against Cardiff City
Nwankwo Kanu
The man with the third most substitute appearances ever in the Premier League, it’s unsurprising that he also makes it into this list as one of the Gunners’ best supersubs.
Tied with Bendtner on nine goals, the Nigerian found it difficult to become a regular starter for Arsenal given that the Gunners were blessed with the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Jose Antonio Reyes.
Regarded as an Arsenal legend, he was part of the Invincibles season of 2003/04 and scored one of his greatest goals (off the bench, naturally) again against Tottenham in May 1999.
Nwankwo Kanu in action against Chelsea
Olivier Giroud
At the top of the pile with 10 substitute goals – and counting – is Olivier Giroud, the man who scored the equaliser off the bench at Old Trafford.
Despite being a much-maligned and divisive figure amongst the Arsenal faithful, his goalscoring abilities cannot be denied.
The difference with Giroud is that he has long been the first-choice striker for the Gunners while the others on this list were not quite as prolific.
Moreover, when he’s been brought on from the bench it usually means Arsenal are chasing the game and in need of a ‘plan B’. This was the case against United and was also the case a few weeks ago Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring their first goal
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