'Both are from Nigeria' - Arsenal goalkeeper reveals he got his height from his parents

Arsenal-owned goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has revealed that he got his height from his Nigerian parents. 

Okonkwo is a giant of a goalkeeper, standing at 6ft and 6in - almost the same height as Real Madrid glovesman  Thibaut Courtois and an inch taller than PSG first choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. 

The 21-year-old spent the first half of the season at League Two club Crewe Alexandra and was recalled from his loan spell in the January transfer window before heading to SK Sturm Graz in Austria to complete the season.

Okonkwo impressed on his Austrian Bundesliga debut, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Rapid Vienna on Friday, a week after he helped Sturm Graz advance to the semifinals of the OFB Cup. 

The Hale End Academy graduate wasn't always a goalkeeper as he started his career as a striker.

"I got my height from my parents. My father is 1.96 meters tall and my mother is 1.70 meters tall. Both are from Nigeria,"  Okonkwo said to Kleine Zeitung.

"I played briefly on the field, otherwise always as a goalkeeper. I've always had a lot of fun with saves. 

"And my size is certainly not a disadvantage either."

Okonkwo has been on the books of Arsenal since the age of eight, rising through the ranks before he was officially promoted to the first team ahead of the 2021-2022 season. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : arsenal.com 

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com