'Your time to shine': Bukayo Saka reacts to news out of Arsenal today

By Giuseppe Labellarte

Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has joined Crewe on a one-year loan deal.

The Gunners academy graduate will look to build up first-team experience after shining at youth level.

Okonkwo joined the Hale End setup aged eight and has risen through the academy ranks.

The 20-year-old has been in and around the first-team fold in Mikel Arteta’s side for a year now.

Okonkwo was named on the senior bench on a number of occasions last season.

The 6ft 5in stopper penned fresh terms at Arsenal last summer, signing a new long-term contract.

Now, Okonkwo is taking the next step in his career, linking up with the League Two outfit for 2022-23.

On Friday, the goalkeeper took to Instagram to express his delight at joining Crewe for the season.

Arsenal teammates, including Bukayo Saka and Albert Sambi Lokonga, wished him all the best.

“Huge talent”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was delighted when Okonkwo penned a long-term contract last year.

“We are so happy another academy player has come through our system at the club,” Arteta told the Gunners media team.

“Together with Arthur’s huge talent and hard work, we thank our colleagues at the academy for developing Arthur in recent years to get to this stage.

“They are doing great work with the players’ development here and should be really proud.

“Arthur was working and travelling a lot with the first team last season and we have all seen his quality at first hand.

“He is a strong young goalkeeper with great potential and we’re so pleased he has signed a new deal. He has absolutely earned his place in the first-team squad. 

“Arthur will now join us every single day in training, where we look forward to watching him continue to develop and improve his goalkeeping.

“I know all our fans will join me in congratulating Arthur on this positive step in his career.”