Wrexham’s recent run of good form has been in no small part down to their incredible solidity in defence.
Wrexham have the most clean sheets in League One this season with an incredible 19 already to their name, including five out of their last six games.
It is no surprise Phil Parkinson’s side have the best defensive record in the division and defender Eoghan O’Connell has become one of the league’s best performers.
Max Cleworth is another player that has been the model of consistency this season and after a turbulent start to the campaign, Arthur Okonkwo has also stepped up and showed his worth in recent weeks.
Mikel Arteta’s prediction on Arthur Okonkwo
In 2021, Okonkwo signed a new contract at Arsenal, making him their third choice goalkeeper for the 2021-22 campaign in North London.
However, soon after that contract signature, Arsenal signed England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Okonkwo fell further down the pecking order and eventually went on loan to Sturm Graz in Austria before making his way to the Racecourse Ground.
Okonkwo featured for Arsenal in pre season in July 2021 and made a blunder in a 2-1 defeat to Hibernian. As per Football.London, Arteta made a prediction on the young keeper that is certainly coming true in recent weeks.
Arteta stated: “”It’s his debut so he was so excited. He has earned his place in the first team with everything he has done at the academy level and unfortunately, it started like that. But things will get better. He will have another chance on Saturday so hopefully, he can be better.”
Okonkwo has certainly become ‘better’ in his Wrexham career and against Stockport made a vital save in the second half to preserve his clean sheet and add to his tally of 14 already this season.
Okonkwo growing in importance for Wrexham
Wrexham fans hailed Okonkwo against Stockport in what was another stellar performance from the goalkeeper after initially struggling to come back from his wrist injury.
Parkinson took Okonkwo out the Wrexham side earlier on in the campaign after making a couple of mistakes in the defeat to Stevenage with the keeper ‘not quite right’ after his time out the game.
However, since his return, Okonkwo has been outstanding in the sticks for the Red Dragons and his importance in the promotion run in increases week upon week.
James McClean has heaped praise on Okonkwo by describing him as a ‘big game big player’ and Parkinson will hope for that to continue from his number one.