During Arsenal’s star-studded ‘Legends’ clash with AC Milan at the Emirates on Saturday, Nigel Winterburn and Paulo Di Canio produced a lovely moment when they recreated the Italians’ infamous push on ref Paul Alcock from 1998.
In the original incident, Di Canio, then lining out for Sheffield Wednesday, got involved in a fracas with Martin Keown before seeing red. However, instead of just walking off the pitch, the fiery Italian decided to push ref Alcock to the floor, before Winterburn himself rather lamely squared up to the striker. All that got Di Canio a hefty 11-match ban and is still well worth a watch!
Fast forward 18 years and at the Emirates, after the two players clashed in the middle of the pitch during the game played in aid of the Arsenal Foundation, Di Canio ‘pushes’ Winterburn who pulls off a rather fine impersonation of Alcock’s famous staggering fall…
Paulo di Canio and Nigel Winterburn went up against each other at the Emirates earlier – only led to one thing… pic.twitter.com/HhNuGhRvuZ
— Sporting Index (@sportingindex) September 3, 2016
Lovely stuff!
The game itself, which saw the likes of Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Anders Limpar go head to head against Cafu, Zvonimir Boban and Paulo Maldini, produced six goals, with Nwanko Kanu bagging a hat-trick as the Gunners won 4-2. If Lucas Perez doesn’t cut the mustard for the north Londoners this season, maybe Arsene Wenger should give the big Nigerian another try?!
Here’s all the goals…
All six goals from today’s Arsenal Legends match including a Kanu hat-trick! ⚽️⚽️⚽️ https://t.co/HJ0Wlmxd72
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 3, 2016
What a smorgasbord of talent! Although disappointingly, the great Dejan ‘Il Genio’ Savicevic didn’t line out for the Milan Glorie side.