He spent three years with the Gunners, helping the side to win two Premier League titles, two FA Cup trophies and one Community Shield.
Kanu left the Emirates Stadium to team up with West Bromwich Albion before joining Portsmouth, where he won the FA Cup.
“Kanu did not perform as well as Mikel. We are not talking about individual play here but Kanu did his best,” he added.
Okocha, meanwhile, featured for Bolton Wanderers and spent four years with the club after arriving from Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain and played a key role to help them keep their Premier League status throughout his stay.
Another amiable Nigerian player to grace the English top division is Celestine Babayaro.
The full-back featured for Chelsea and Newcastle United and won the FA Cup, Uefa Cup Winner’s Cup and Uefa Super Cup with the Blues.
“Yakubu, Osaze and Babayaro did their best for their clubs but a tree cannot make a forest. Their performances cannot be compared with Mikel,” he continued.