Arthur Okonkwo ended last season very strongly indeed, with the talented young goalkeeper featuring frequently for Arsenal at U23 level and also training with the first-team on many occasions.
The start to this season has not gone to plan for the 18-year-old, however, with Okonkwo yet to play because of an injury that he suffered in pre-season.
As a consequence, Okonkwo has had to watch on while James Hillson and Karl Hein have featured in goal for the U23s, with Hein not being especially convincing.
Okonkwo will know that he faces a battle to regain his place in the side upon his return, but the prospect is extremely highly regarded at Arsenal and still has a very good chance of eventually getting into the first-team squad in some capacity.
Possessing excellent reflexes, Okonkwo is also a good kicker of the ball and is an assured presence in goal, not letting anything faze him.
This season Okonkwo is still eligible to play for the U18s, so there is a possibility that he could feature at that level first in order to get back into the rhythm of playing again.
Ultimately, though, Okonkwo, who is nearing a return to action, will want to quickly get back to the situation that he was in during the closing stages of last season, when he was on the fringes of the first-team squad.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Get better, get stronger! Looking forward to you getting back!
Maybe he can get into the Nigerian team too. The are also badly in need of a goalkeeper!!
He’s an English citizen and with the poor standard of our top keepers I would like to think he could be an England international one day
Super Eagles all dayyy
I’m sure that he will be a real asset for the national team of his choice.
I’ll be happy as long as he’s also wearing the gooners shirt on his back!!!
Really hope to see this kid on the first team one day.