Arthur Okonkwo : I Want To Become England’s First Choice

Mr Ken 04/26/2023

The Super Eagles’ chase for the services of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo may have hit the rocks with recent revelations of the youngster.

Nigeria has been on the tail of goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo since his days at Arsenal. But it seems the youngster is not looking in the direction of the former African champions.

Okonkwo is currently the goalkeeper if Austrian Bundesliga giants, Sturm Graz. And he completed the move last transfer window from Crewe Alexandra in the English League Two.

Before switching to the Austrian outfit, Okonkwo surprised fans when he kept ten cleansheets in twenty-six games for Crewe. And that form was the reason why Nigeria, who’s in charge of a consistent Goalie switched attention to him.

And now at Sturm Graz, the 21-year-old has kept five cleansheets in 12 games. His fine form has also helped the team reach an Austrian Cup final.

Arthur Okonkwo Expresses Interest To Becoming England’s First Choice Goalkeeper

Arthur Okonkwo Expresses Interest in becoming England's first choice goalkeeper — Arthur Okonkwo in action

However, his decision to stay with England was revealed in an interview with the Athletic. According to him, he wants to become the first England black first choice goalkeeper after David James.

David James was England’s first choice goalkeeper between 2006 and 2010. He represented England between 1997 and 2010, earning 53 caps for the Three Lions.

The former England international is the fifth most capped player in the English Premier League. In his time he made a total of Five Hundred and Seventy -two appearances(572). And he also held a record of most cleansheets kept at One Hundred and Sixty-nine(169) until Petr Cech broke the record.

“I’m not sure why it is. But the ones I really look up to now are Mike Maignan(AC Milan), and Andre Onana(Inter Milan),” he was quoted by Owngoal Nigeria.

“I have actually gone to watch him(Onana) as he’s a top keeper. They’re good role models and, in the past, there haven’t been many. There are coming up, but hopefully, I can help change that.”