Arsenal Manager More Or Less Confirms Nigerian GK Will Not Make Premier League Debut Vs Aston Villa

Published: February 04, 2021

Arsenal first team manager Mikel Arteta has more or less confirmed that Arthur Okonkwo will not be in between the pipes when his side face Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Saturday, January 6.

The Gunners are facing a goalkeeper crisis with first-choice glovesman Bernd Leno unavailable for selection following his dismissal against Wolverhampton Wanders while recent loan signing from Brighton & Hove Mathew Ryan has not trained with the squad this week due to a muscular issue.

As things stand, Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson is in line to start in goal if Ryan is ruled out of the trip to Aston Villa.

Okonkwo, who has been promoted to Arsenal's fourth choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season, is part of the first team bubble and is being tipped to provide cover for the Iceland international who is not too popular with the fans after he made schoolboy errors in the loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup.

Providing an update on Ryan's fitness, Arteta told reporters at Thursday's press conference : "He has not been available to train yet, and Alex is available, so we will have the choice between the two of them for the weekend.

"If Mat is able to train, and they are both fit, we will have a decision to make. If Mat is not fit, obviously Alex will be in goal"

The last Nigerian goalkeeper to feature in a Premier League game was Carl Ikeme - against Wigan Athletic on the final day of the 2011-2012 season.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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