What Does The Future Hold For Arthur Okonkwo At Arsenal?

Arthur Okonkwo has seen his development at Arsenal hampered by an injury, but the talented glovesman is sure to be eyeing a return to action for the club anytime soon, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The precociously gifted youngster is yet to kick a ball this season following the injury he picked up before the start of the campaign.

Having earned rave reviews for his performances since breaking into the U-23 team at Hale End, it has long been mooted that the 18-year-old would have gotten his senior team breakthrough before now, but for the injury.

Revered by important figures at the club the likes of Freddie Ljungberg , Steve Bould and even erstwhile legendary manager Arsene Wenger, Okonkwo has already been involved in the Gunners first team in some capacity, as he was part of their traveling squad to face Napoli in a Europa League match last year.

He has also had the honour of training alongside seasoned professionals in his position, like Petr Cech, Bernd Leno as well as Emiliano Martinez at the Emirates Stadium, suffice to say he could have been handed some roles this season if he was fit, following the retirement of the Czech last season.

Okonkwo has been described as a player who possesses great reflexes, a composed presence in between the sticks and had picked Manchester United's David De Gea as a player who he watches often and tries to emulate.

There is no doubting the fact that he has enough potential to break into the current Gunners first team when he regains full fitness or even earning a promotion to deputise for Leno, but relapsing back to playing youth football for much longer might not be the best option for a player of his talents.

There would be no paucity of suitors who would be willing to give him senior football, and he could take a cue from one or two of his compatriots who are now enjoying successful loan spells as senior players elsewhere.

Will the return of football see the youngster bounce back to fitness and thus earn his senior debut at Arsenal, or will he move to hone his talents away from the club?

Emmanuel Chinaza