Mikel Arteta transfer decision raises questions as ex-Arsenal player outshines £30m signing

Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was released by Arsenal after coming up through the club's academy and has gone on to shine as Hollywood-owned Wrexham's first-choice shot-stopper

Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is demonstrating to Mikel Arteta precisely what he let go with his impressive record of clean sheets.

The 24-year-old was once a rising star in Arsenal's academy, having joined the club at just eight years old. After climbing through the ranks, he became part of the Spaniard's first-team squad in 2021, making his senior debut in a pre-season friendly against Hibernian.

Okonkwo spent the 2022/23 season on loan, initially with Crewe Alexandra, before moving to Sturm Graz, where he earned an Austrian Cup winner's medal. The keeper first joined Wrexham on loan shortly after the start of the 2023/24 season following Ben Foster's abrupt retirement.

He played a crucial role in helping the Welsh side, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, achieve promotion from League Two. Okonkwo was released by the Gunners when his contract ended in the summer of 2024, as his performances persuaded Wrexham to sign him on a permanent basis.

That decision proved to be a masterstroke, as he once again excelled between the sticks to guide the Red Dragons to their third consecutive promotion, this time from League One to the Championship. Since being allowed to leave Arsenal, he has gone from strength to strength and is now outperforming the Gunners' £30million man David Raya in one key area.

Firmly established as Wrexham's No. 1, Okonkwo can boast of 36 league clean sheets since making his debut for the club in September 2023. That tally represents the joint-highest figure across England's top four tiers, level with Leeds United's Illan Meslier and exceeding Raya's total by one.

The numbers demonstrate just how significantly Okonkwo has developed since departing North London. For Arsenal, who invested heavily in Raya shortly before Okonkwo initially joined Wrexham on loan, it serves as a reminder that one of their academy products may have quietly matured into a reliable goalkeeper.

However, the shot-stopper remains entirely concentrated on helping Wrexham's Hollywood owners realise their ambition of reaching the Premier League.

Speaking about his side's Championship season so far, Okonkwo told The Leader: "This league is relentless and it's not a league you come into and you perform immediately. I think everyone has different paths.

"We just have to stay focused, keep going through our games as much as we can and keep performing. That's the most important thing. But I am always delighted when I keep a clean sheet and hopefully there are many more."

Okonkwo has achieved 40 clean sheets in 91 matches for Wrexham across all competitions. His most recent shut-out arrived as Parkinson's team defeated Charlton 1-0 last Saturday, with Okonkwo producing several crucial stops to deny the Addicks an equaliser.

Currently sitting 13th in the Championship and maintaining an unbeaten streak in their last five league matches, Wrexham have seen a significant improvement. Okonkwo, who has played a key role in stabilising the team after a challenging start to the season, is quick to acknowledge the impact of defender Dom Hyam, a deadline day signing from Blackburn.

He said: "Dom is so good. He gives me so much advice on the pitch and away from the pitch. He's obviously much more experienced than me so playing with him is unbelievable. He's so good for me and he's such a good defender, he's done so well since coming in."