Teenage brother of goalkeeper targeted by NFF trains with Arsenal first team pre-Man Utd

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta promoted promising goalkeeper Brian Okonkwo to first team training on Friday ahead of his side's upcoming clash against Manchester United in the FA Cup, allnigeriasoccer.com reports. 

Brian is the younger brother of Wrexham goalie Arthur Okonkwo, who is on the radar of Nigeria Football Federation's Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen with a view to being called up to the Super Eagles. 

Arthur Okonkwo, who was with Arsenal at the time, was suggested to former Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr by ex-Nigerian Federation president Amaju Pinnick, but the German felt the goalkeeper was still in the developmental phase.

The 19-year-old Okonkwo has trained with Arsenal's first team on multiple occasions since the start of the year and was named in the traveling squad for the Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove last weekend but did not crack the matchday 20.

During Friday's training session at Sobha Realty in London Colney, Arsenal's goalkeeping coach Terry Mason put Okonkwo through his paces.

Brian faces a tough task to be named in Arsenal's gameday squad to face Manchester United, considering the fact that goalkeepers David Raya, Neto and highly-rated academy goalie Jack Porter were also involved in today's session. 

Although he has trained with the senior team several times, the young Nigerian shot-stopper has yet to called up for an official first team game.

This season, Okonkwo has featured in four matches across the Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy for Arsenal's development squad.

He enjoyed a taste of first team football during loan spells at non-league clubs Hitchin Town FC, Leatherhead and Cheshunt.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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