Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has outlined his relief after Arsenal decided against triggering a contract clause that could have seen on-loan goalkeeper Arthur Okwonko recalled.
The Red Dragons’ Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney pulled off a major coup in securing the services of the Gunners youngster on a temporary deal in the summer. The England youth international essentially replaced Ben Foster and arrived with significant pedigree, having starred on loan at Sturm Graz in Austria last term.
After continuing his rise with a strong star to the League Two campaign in North Wales, club chiefs had been concerned that his stay could prove fleeting. His parent club did reserve the right trigger a clause in their agreement to bring him back before January 21, leading to fears that he could head back to the Emirates.
However, those concerns have now been allayed after the deadline passed for the North London club to recall him from his season-long loan. The 22-year-old has played 22 times for Wrexham in all competitions since joining in September but briefly returned to the Gunners’ Colney base for treatment on a jaw injury sustained in December.
Now, Dragons boss Parkinson hailed the Gunners’ decision to allow the stopper to remain in North Wales for the time being as they continue to chase promotion to the third tier. Praising Okwonko for his contributions so far, he said: “It’s a massive signing for us to keep Arthur, he’s been exceptional for us.
“He’s a great lad and has bought in to everything the club is about. He’s moved up here and he’s been great to have around, but not just that, he’s a terrific goalkeeper. When someone plays well you always worry that they’ve caught the eye of other teams. So yes, I was pleased when the clock struck 12 after the 21st.”
Since the retirement of Wrexham’s previous first-choice stopper Foster, the Gunners youngster has been a near ever-present in the side. Forming an integral part of the team, the Welsh outfit have benefited from his presence and sit in second place in League Two currently.
When it comes to the stopper’s parent club’s assessment of his performances, boss Parkinson has hinted that the Premier League giants are delighted with Okwonko’s improvement. He stated, “They have been fantastic with us. “They are interested in Arthur’s progress and know we are taking good care of him.”This is an excellent stage for Arthur to perform on, with the expectation of everything here in Wrexham, playing in front of packed houses every week. They understand that this is an excellent place for him to be.
Regarding the potential of permanent moves while the window is still open, Wrexham’s head coach has been mostly reticent on the matter. Regarding whether the club will do much business this winter, he recently told The Leader: “I don’t want to make any predictions for January – in terms of incoming players.
“We have a solid squad, but we are constantly looking. As our supporters know, we are constantly working to improve, and we are now examining a number of circumstances, but we are holding our cards close to our chest.”
Leave a Reply