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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="better-collective-widget">{"type":"better-collective-widget","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Red Dragons needed another goalkeeper</li><li>Arsenal star lured to North Wales</li><li>Set to become a free agent this summer</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

The Michael Jordan of Wrexham! Arthur Okonkwo likened to NBA legend as Rob McElhenney explains goalkeeper transfer gamble

<p>With <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ryan-reynolds-generous-ben-foster-gesture-helped-wrexham-unearth-transfer-gem-back-to-back-promotions/blt0a054e3096e54254" target="_blank">Ben Foster retiring early on in the 2023-24 campaign</a>, the Red Dragons found themselves in the market for another shot-stopper. They were eventually able to convince Okonkwo to leave Premier League giants Arsenal and take a step down into League Two.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>The 22-year-old starred for Wrexham – despite <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/welcome-to-wrexham-brutal-jaw-injury-arsenal-goalkeeper-arthur-okonkwo-x-ray-huge-bone-crack-mouth-surgery/bltb39f15fb0fbb805c" target="_blank">suffering a painful jaw injury at one stage</a> – keeping 14 clean sheets for the Welsh outfit and conceding just 28 goals as they secured a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/fire-up-jet-vegas-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-sin-city-party-message-elliot-lee-celebrate-promotions-wrexham/blt6ecaa3b927e191ee" target="_blank">runners-up finish and back-to-back promotions</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>There was always the threat of Okonkwo producing such heroics before returning to north London or linking up with another club. McElhenney has said in the <em>Welcome to Wrexham</em> documentary series of taking that punt: “He's a Premier League level keeper who just happens to be young and doesn't have a place on the Arsenal squad yet. It would be as if it's 1985 and the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan and they are like 'Well you're a 20-year-old kid'. Then the Philadelphia 76ers were like 'Hey, guess what Chicago? We will just take him off your hands for like two or three years and then we'll just build him up because he can start with us and we can send him back to you'. Then he comes to Philly, wins like three championships and they're like 'Great, we're gonna start a dynasty' but then Chicago are like 'F*ck off we're taking him back'. That's exactly what it is!”</p>

WHAT MCELHENNEY SAID

<p>There is still a chance that Okonkwo will be back at SToK Racecourse for 2024-25, as he <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/can-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-afford-arthur-okonkwo-wage-issue-wrexham-transfer-scramble-arsenal-goalkeeper/blt688a604308666379" target="_blank">prepares to leave Arsenal as a free agent at the end of his contract</a>, but McElhenney and fellow co-chairman Ryan Reynolds are aware that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/arthur-okonkwo-discusses-future--wrexham-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-side/blt10b532a87a0d03f1" target="_blank">interest from higher up the EFL ladder is being shown</a> in the promising keeper.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR OKONKWO?

The Michael Jordan of Wrexham! Arthur Okonkwo likened to NBA legend as Rob McElhenney explains goalkeeper transfer gamble | Goal.com UK

Rob McElhenney has likened Arthur Okonkwo to NBA legend Michael Jordan when explaining the transfer gamble that Wrexham took on the young goalkeeper.