This Saturday afternoon, Wrexham will play Grimsby Town at Blundell Park in an attempt to advance further in League Two.
Luke Norris’ early goal proved to be the difference between the two teams at the Stok Cae Ras, putting Phil Parkinson’s team inside the automatic promotion spots on goal difference despite just suffering their third home loss of the season.
The Red Dragons have seen a variety of uneven seasons since joining the Football League, culminating in a run of three straight losses in January. After a great start, this series of results has given teams like Crewe Alexandra and MK Dons the opportunity to gain ground in the battle for the top three, with Wrexham’s automatic promotion.
Even if they are unsure of the division they will play in the upcoming season, interest in possible newcomers will have already piqued in the summer, with Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney maybe willing to part with more money should they play in League One.
Prior to the current campaign, a number of players were recruited to North Wales on loan or permanently. One player in particular, who was instrumental in Wrexham’s success, may pursue a permanent transfer to the team in the summer.
Arthur Okonkwo’s statistics this season
Having given up 13 goals in their first four games of the season, Wrexham experienced an early goalkeeping problem. After a 5-5 tie with Swindon Town, Ben Foster, who had come out of retirement to support the Welsh team on a temporary basis and help them earn promotion back to the Football League, decided to retire once more as a result.
Parkinson is now looking for a replacement between the sticks after the former Manchester United goalkeeper acknowledged that his choice was influenced by the fact that he had not performed to the standards he set for himself.
It resulted in the acquisition of Arthur Okonkwo, an Arsenal youth player who signed a season-long loan with Wrexham after spending time with Crewe Alexandra and the Austrian team Sturm Graz.
Since coming to Wrexham, Okonkwo has been a beloved member of the team. He has put up a number of strong performances this year, earning him a shot at the League Two Golden Glove award.
His 11 clean sheets this season and his role in propelling the Red Dragons to third place in the standings at this point in the campaign speak for themselves.
Regarding Okonkwo’s tenure in North Wales, the proverb “don’t fall in love with a loan player” has been bandied around, but Wrexham supporters might be hopeful that the 22-year-old goalkeeper can sign a long-term contract at the conclusion of current campaign.
This summer, Arthur Okonkwo will depart from Arsenal.
Okonkwo’s contract at the Emirates Stadium expires in the summer and, according to Football London, the Englishman won’t be putting pen to paper on fresh terms.
The young goalkeeper will be allowed to leave for free once his contract expires as Mikel Arteta is well-stocked in the goalkeeping department with Aaron Ramsdale, David Raya and Karl Hein as current first-team goalkeepers.
However, three successful loan spells away from the Emirates will go a long way in helping the 22-year-old find his future suitors ahead of next season, and Wrexham should jump at the chance to sign him on a free transfer.
However, Okonkwo’s decision to sign a new contract with the Red Dragons may depend greatly on the team’s elevation to League One. Although his achievements this season have demonstrated his ability to compete at a higher level, Wrexham’s efforts to sign the young goalkeeper may be helped by the lack of interest from teams higher up the divisions.
The fans also admire Okonkwo, which may offer Wrexham an advantage in contract negotiations—but only if promotion is guaranteed. It’s not impossible, considering the project McElhenney and Reynolds are doing in Wales, but if they’re still in League Two, it might be more challenging to recruit Okonkwo long-term.
