Promising loanee’s “biggest goal” is to make it at Arsenal | OneFootball

Arthur Okonkwo is still dreaming of becoming Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper in the future, after a positive start to his second loan spell.

After over a decade in the Arsenal academy, Arthur Okonkwo went out on his first loan last summer, joining Crewe Alexandra.

Okonkwo kept 10 clean sheets in 26 games in the first half of the season, earning plenty of praise around the division.

Arsenal decided to take the opportunity to help the young goalkeeper make a step up, recalling and re-loaning him to Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Once again, Okonkwo has made a strong early impression, making a penalty save to knock Austrian league leaders RB Salzburg out of the OFB Cup quarter-finals last week.

But despite his positive form elsewhere, Okonkwo’s dream is still to make it back with his parent club.

“I just want to give my best every day,” Okonkwo said. “Being a footballer you want to play in front of the crowds every week.

“I don’t want to sit on a bench. I always want to be playing, to improve myself and one day become Arsenal’s No.1. This is my biggest goal. This is still my dream.”

Arsenal have been a lot busier in the loan market in recent seasons, and that has led to a few success stories, including Folarin Balogun’s spell with Stade de Reims this season.

Okonkwo drew a comparison between his academy teammate and his own situation.

“[Balogun’s] in a similar position to me,” Okonkwo added. “He wasn’t playing as consistently as he would like and that’s why he went out. That’s why a lot of players go on loan nowadays to play.

“They want to get consistent football and to prove they can play football. It’s so important.

“And that’s my focus now. I’m just thinking about the present. I’m at Sturm Graz and I just want to give my best every day.”

The Austrian Bundesliga is about to return from its winter break, and Okonkwo could make his league debut against Rapid Wien on Friday, February 10th at 19:30 GMT.