17yo Arsenal-owned player of Nigerian descent makes senior debut for non-league club 

Aged 17 years and 50 days, Arsenal-owned goalkeeper Brian Okonkwo made his senior debut as Hitchin Town and Nuneaton Borough shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Top Field. 

Okonkwo joined the Canaries on a one-match release loan on Friday and will now return to the Emirates Stadium. 

Brian, younger brother of Arthur Okonkwo, was signed on a temporary basis to provide cover for Charlie Horlock, who was not available for selection after he was sent off for receiving two yellow cards.

In the 18th minute, Okonkwo, who was named in the starting lineup, did well to prevent a goal by tracking back and tipping the ball over the bar after a quickly taken free-kick.

The Anglo-Nigerian glovesman was unbeaten until the 45th minute when Kane Richards opened the scoring. 

Bradley Bell slotted past the Nuneaton Borough goalkeeper to level things up midway through the second half. 

Brian Okonkwo signed scholarship forms at Arsenal last summer, six years after joining the club as a schoolboy. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit  : arsenal.com

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