Arsenal have confirmed that Arthur Okonkwo will spend the 2022/23 season on loan with Crewe Alexandra.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper was promoted to the Arsenal first team last summer prior to the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale and ended up being Mikel Arteta’s third-choice option between the sticks behind Bernd Leno.
Okonkwo is yet to make his competitive debut for Arsenal but he did make it onto the bench for seven Premier League matches last season.
While Bernd Leno is expected to leave the club imminently, the arrival of Matt Turner means Okonkwo’s status hasn’t really changed. Given his age, he needs to gain first team experience so a loan certainly makes sense.
We’re hazarding a guess that Karl Hein, who spent the second half of last season with Reading and is a full Estonia international, will fill Okonkwo’s gloves. That said, Alex Runarsson is still knocking around at London Colney and represents another option.
Crewe seem very clearly happy to have signed Arthur. Boss Alex Morris said: “We are delighted to sign Arthur. Arsenal have been exceptional in facilitating the deal, we have got a great relationship with them.
“He was our number one target right from the start of the summer. He has great stature, he’s a good shot-stopper and has a good record of saving penalties. I believe Arsenal have aspirations of him playing in their first team in the future but for now he is here to help us.”
Best of luck to Arthur in League Two.
That Runarsson deal must have ruined Inaka Cana as a man. All the sharp corners rounded, the hubris tamed, a quiet deferential man these days, a ‘yes’ man grateful to be kept around. Leave the decisions to others, head down. When he goes home to his supper, he doesn’t complain to the missus when the meat is overcooked, the potatoes raw. ‘Lovely’, he mumbles, ever fearing the slap, the hard emasculating words about when he ‘used to be a man’. She brags about her virile lovers as he quietly puts on his nightclothes, climbing into bed wearing the cuckold’s horns.
Funny but harsh. We’ve had quite a few duds come and go. Part and parcel, no?
As you can read from my little vignette, it’s incredible what Runarsson has done to this man. Just incredible to have brought him to this nadir. Wanders the moors at night drinking Castaway, and Buckfast, when he can get it.
Great experience for him, hope he comes back next season to challenge for the first team.
6 foot 6 inches, that’s a great height for a keeper, especially if he’s athletic too!
Great stature indeed.
It’s a tall order to break into the first team but I have high hopes. Big love to you Arthur. Let’s hope you have a huge season at Crewe.
I’m sure he’ll succeed, he has the right altitude.
The players all look up to him.
We should just keep Runarsson kicking around as No.3 until his contract expires. It’s one thing being no.2, but a no.3 is completely starved of game time, it’s not really any kind of career opportunity at all. I think you can even make an emergency keeper signing if 2 are injured at the same time? Still someone has to do it
Hein has some good momentum and is seemingly a decent talent, it would be a wasted year for him to stay at the club and play no games
Sensible idea, another year out on loan would be incredibly beneficial for Hein.
If Runarsson is number three, so be it, very low chance he will be needed. The only issue is that he would use up a non home grown spot in the squad.
Great news. If ever anyone needed a loan move it was Okonkwo. He looked petrified when he made his debut. It’ll do him a world of good to get used to senior football. He still has time on his side.
Good to hear about the great relationship we have with Crewe. Perhaps we can convince them to take Cedric and Torreira as well…
Cedric is really not that bad and gets a lot of unfair comments on here. He is just not suited to being played alongside Tavares, who also bombs forward.
Interesting to see his name on the transfer board of potential outgoing at the beginning of last season. Him and Holding both in the the station waiting for their departure trains, neither likely to move this window but if we receive an offer for either, the club will take it.
It’s great that he will get a full season of senior football, but League Two seems too far down the pyramid.
Crewe also say he was their number one target from the start of the summer, but they only signed him 24 hours before their first game of the season.
I think it’s a good start – get him used to the physicality and mentality required to be a senior #1.
League 2, 1 or the Championship are all good places for an up and coming keeper. Game is the same for them between the sticks, a little more physical in the box maybe but all good stuff to see his level.
I’m eating Aero Caramel until we get Partey cover…
I don’t get the joke, but we have Partey cover – Elneny.
Congrats, Arthur
This is a great level for a 20 year old GK. Hopefully, he will get opportunities and climb up levels in the next 3 years.
League Two is not a great level for one of our loanees at that age.
Hein was playing in the Championship last season.