Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal and has joined the first-team squad.
Arsenal confirmed Okonkwo’s new contract in a statement released on their official website on Friday.
Okonkwo, 19, who has been with Arsenal since their under-9 level, signed as a scholar in July 2018.
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He impressed last season, regularly training with the first team and also travelling with the matchday squad as the third goalkeeper on numerous occasions during the campaign.
He also made eight appearances at youth level in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy.
In 2018/19, Arthur made his Premier League 2 debut at just 17 years of age, before going on to win the under-18 Premier League South.
During that season, he played between the two age groups, making 14 appearances across all competitions, keeping seven clean sheets in the process.
Arthur will wear the number 33 for next season.
The new contract is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
11 Comments
That’s great. God bless Nigeria.
Best of luck bro.
Slot for 3rd Choice begins.
Oluwayemi – Tottenham
Okonkwo – Arsenal
Good to hear this.
That is if sport minister, ex footballers and some funny fans won’t see home base Goal keepers as the right choice.
This young goalkeepers should be given a chance in the national team….Okonkwo is a modern day goalkeeper…. Okonkwo is very tall…. Okonkwo has good reflexes….. Okonkwo has a good footwork…..Okonkwo has a good rushing out…..Okonkwo is very good in handling crosses…..Nff Should cap him on time to avoid England wasting him away…..Local goalkeepers should not be given automatic shirts because the SE is not meant to be used to promote their careers but their careers is meant to promote the SE…..It’s high time we stopped the practice of using our national team to promote dying football careers…..Instead Booming football careers should be used to promote our dying national team.
You can see how football is being organized in a country where things work. From under 9 gradually to main team. 2morow now when this guy is being called up into super eagle one Yeye minister and some militant will say no.
How many of our home base player are truly a product of any football aceddemy.
Am not saying we don’t have tallented local player but a talent that is not well harness can never become a good skill.
Keyword: football academy. Valid
Can we allow these guys to perform for a while before we start singing the “invite him” chorus???? . You people should understand that the national team is not a bazaar where everybody would be called up to display his wares (both substandard and original) without being tested according to set standards. The national team is meant for tested and proven players whom we have seen perform. They just got called up to their respective first teams and hence would have to learn the ropes from already established players (keepers) before them to garner more experience. It is too early to sing the “invite him” chorus for them but their being called up to first teams is a good development after all.
@Oakfield, now is the time! Let them also come and continue their learning process under Okoye and Uzoho. After all,they will be coming in as third choice to any tournament.
@ Oakfield, good point you put out there about national team being the convergence of the best tested and proven players. But it’s still not out of place to cap prospective talents of dual nationality. On the ground of them having other choices, national team wise,nigeria must act fast to seal their allegiance. Even one cap in a recognised friendly match ain’t a bad idea.
@ glory and @sean, Would it be a bad idea if we first invite them to our cadet teams like u21 and 23 instead of “straight ” to the super eagles, the most senior of all??? I think, it’s better we cap them in our cadet teams before tbe super eagles.??? Let them start their development from there make we see how far they’d go. We don’t have to be in a hurry to cap tie them. It won’t make sense if we cap tie them and then get dropped or dumped if they fall short of expectations. My opinion though….
@ Oakfield I think capping these guys is what matters irrespective of the level. A friendly match with the senior team even if for few minutes would definitely do no harm. Capping one or two at every friendlies before a major tournament will increase the pool of ready n potential talents. That some may fail to meet standard is a common occurrence with every country, England, Germany, Brazil etc. Some end up being discarded while others go on to become a main stay. The onus lies with the players.
Nigeria should get him now before Southgate put sand in the garri for us. He is found of doing just that.