'Will be very important to my career' - Arsenal GK Okonkwo targets loan move

Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has admitted that he would relish the chance to get first team experience on loan next season.

The Hale Ender was promoted to the Gunners first team last summer but has yet to make his first team debut for his boyhood club, with Aaron Ramsdale and Bernd Leno ahead of him in Mikel Arteta's pecking order of goalkeepers.

The 20-year-old has been keeping up his fitness by playing a couple of games for the development squad in the Premier League 2 when he is not on first team duties as cover for Ramsdale and Leno.

Okonkwo is in the crucial stage of his development as a professional footballer and wants the chance to play competitive football.

"Going out and getting some senior football will be very important to my career and future," Okonkwo said to Goal.com.

"Getting loads of games will prepare me for one day hopefully being No.1 and playing in the Premier League. That’s my goal.

"Then, my future goal is winning trophies. But it’s all in stages.

"I just have to keep working every day, staying focused and, hopefully, in time, it will come together."

Okonkwo has been included in seven matchday squads for Premier League games this season but was an unused substitute and was on the bench three times in last season's Europa League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel