Wrexham coach Steve Cooper has praised the performance of Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo, who has been keeping seven clean sheets in 15 games for the League Two club. Cooper said he was impressed by the 21-year-old goalkeeper’s agility, reflexes and leadership skills, and urged Nigeria manager José Peseiro to consider him for the national team.
“Arthur has been fantastic for us since he joined us on loan. He has shown great maturity and confidence, and he has been a key factor in our good results. He has a lot of potential, and I think he deserves a chance to play for Nigeria,” Cooper told the Wrexham website.
Okonkwo, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, has represented England at various youth levels, but he is eligible to switch allegiance to Nigeria. He has not been called up by Peseiro for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, as the Portuguese coach said he wanted to avoid any risks with the injured duo of Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.
However, Cooper said he hoped Peseiro would keep an eye on Okonkwo, who has been attracting interest from several European clubs after his impressive loan spells with Crewe Alexandra, Sturm Graz and Wrexham. “I think Arthur has the quality and the personality to play at a higher level. He is a very humble and hard-working lad, and he is always eager to learn and improve. I hope Peseiro will give him a chance to show what he can do for Nigeria, because I think he can be a great asset for them,” Cooper said.
Okonkwo joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of eight, and signed a senior contract with the club in July 2021. He made his debut for the Gunners in a friendly against Hibernian, but he has not featured for the first team in a competitive match. He is currently on loan at Wrexham until the end of the season, and his contract with Arsenal expires in June 2024