'Vincent Enyeama Of Young Nigerian GKs' Returns To Arsenal Training Ground Pre-Southampton

Published: June 24, 2020

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo returned to Arsenal's training ground on Tuesday ahead of their trip to the South Coast, where they face Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday evening.

The Gunners are short of personnel in the goalkeeping department after first-choice glovesman Bernd Leno suffered a right knee injury in the 40th minute of their 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove last weekend.

Though the injury sustained by the Germany national-teamer is not as bad as first feared, it is all but confirmed that he will miss the remainder of the season as he is not expected to resume training until one month from now.

Regarded as the 'Vincent Enyeama of young Nigerian goalkeepers in Europe', or to put it another way the best teenage Nigerian goalkeeper in the whole of Europe at the moment, Okonkwo has had his own physical issues this season.

In fact, you have to go back to April 26, 2019 to find the last time the 18-year-old last played for Arsenal's youth teams, against Leicester City, a game in which he posted a shutout.

If Okonkwo proves his injury problem is over in the training sessions, he could provide cover for goalkeepers Emiliano Martínez and Matt Macey.

The Hale End Academy product is in talks with Arsenal over a fresh three-year contract, a testament to how highly he is rated by the Gunners chiefs, considering the fact that he has not played at all this season.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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