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PRIOR to being promoted to the first team, Okonkwo, 20, resigned from his previous deal with the Gunners last summer.
According to rumours, goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo of ARSENAL is expected to sign a season-long loan with Crewe Alexandra.
He hasn’t yet made his senior debut, though.
Additionally, the rising star has made the decision to seek some experience abroad as the club’s battle for the position continues to heat up.
Okonkwo will now join Crewe on a season-long loan, with terms already set, according to trade guru Fabrizio Romano.
The goalie was never going to leave Arsenal since they view him as a key player going forward.
Quick profile
Arthur Okonkwo (born 9 September 2001) is an English professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League Two side Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Premier League club Arsenal.
Okonkwo, a London native, started his career at Hampstead Academy before transferring to Lindus Park, where he enrolled in the Arsenal academy in 2009 at the age of eight.
Arsenal
Okonkwo advanced fast through the Arsenal levels, making his under-18 team debut while still a player on the under-15 squad, and making his under-23 team debut at the age of 17. Okonkwo finished as runners-up in the U18 Premier League by the 2018–19 season, had already made appearances as a bench goalkeeper for the first team, and would be third in line for the position heading into the 2019–20 season. Okonkwo had a difficult time staying healthy in the 2019–20 season, making no appearances for any of the Arsenal squads. A candidate for the finest save of the 2020–21 season was Okonkwo’s double stop in the Premier League 2 match against Brighton.
On October 30, 2020, the Arsenal under-21 team won 2-1 against Crawley Town in the EFL Trophy. On November 2, 2021, the same team drew 1-1 at Plymouth Argyle.
Early in July 2021, he committed to a senior deal with Arsenal, wearing the number 33 for the first squad. On July 13, 2021, against Hibernian in a friendly match, Okonkwo made his senior squad debut. Hibernian won 2-1 as a result of Martin Boyle’s tap-in after Okonkwo misjudged a back pass from Arsenal teammate Cedric Soares.
Crewe Alexandra (loan)
On July 29, 2022, Okonkwo signed a season-long loan with Crewe Alexandra of the EFL League Two. He was signed in time to be eligible for Crewe’s season-opening match at Rochdale because Dave Richards, the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, had had a finger injury and needed surgery. On July 30, 2022, Okonkwo made his Crewe and professional league debut in a 2-1 victory at Spotland. On August 6, 2022, he made his home debut at Gresty Road and won 3-0 against Harrogate Town.
Okonkwo made his under-18 debut two days before his birthday after representing England at the under-16 and under-17 levels. He still qualifies for Nigeria due to his Nigerian ancestry. According to reports, Nigeria has been attempting to recruit him as a Super Eagle by using his ability to play for the country.
According to Okonkwo saying this on himself playing as a goalkeeper: “I tried playing outfield but it wasn’t for me. I enjoyed the thrill of making saves – the more spectacular the better”. Okonkwo, a graduate of the Arsenal system, has claimed that Petr Cech and David De Gea have influenced his own goalkeeping style.
