The Real Reason Nigerian Goalkeeper Has Been Left Out Of Arsenal Pre-season Squads

Published: August 02, 2019

Promising Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is doubtful for Arsenal U23s first competitive game of the 2019-2020 campaign against Blackburn Rovers on August 12, allnigeriasoccer.com understands.

The England youth international is undergoing rehabilitation after suffering a hand injury and is racing against the clock to be ready in time for the Gunners season opener at the County Ground.

Arsenal first-team boss Unai Emery was supposed to take Okonkwo to the United States for the pre-season games against Colorado Rapids, Bayern Munich, Fiorentina and Real Madrid but eventually dropped him from the traveling squad due to concerns over his fitness.

With Dejan Iliev securing a loan move to Sereď, Arsenal U23 boss Steve Bould can count on goalkeepers Matt Macey, James Hillson and Tom Smith if Okonkwo fails to recover before the trip to Blackburn.

It is worth remembering that the talented Nigerian was impressive for Arsenal U23s in the tail end of the 2018-2019 campaign, posting three shutouts in the last four matches.

The 17-year-old Okonkwo is regarded as the best teenage goalkeeper of Nigerian descent in the United kingdom and trained with Arsenal's first team several times last season.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com