Can we talk about King Arthur?
Arthur Okonkwo to be precise: his Wrexham career has barely begun, yet he has already been elevated to cult status. It’s rare to see a fan base fall collectively in love with a player so quickly.
There are a few reasons. First and foremost, he’s very good at playing football. Fans tend to take to that.
Okonkwo’s performances so far have shown why Arsenal picked him up, and while Austria isn’t one of the big five leagues, to have already own an Austrian Cup winner’s medal at his young age shows that Okonkwo has clearly got something.
His physique plays a big part in his success. That massive wingspan allows him to dominate the penalty area, and take up advanced positions without leaving his near post exposed.
A fine example of this came at Crawley. We were left exposed down the left flank by a counter attack, but Okonkwo was able to leave his goal line knowing that his reach and reflexes would cover a cheeky attempt to beat him at his near post. That extended the distance he could stretch into the penalty area, and when the ball was pulled across towards a striker at the far post, we pounced and intercepted the pass. Few goalkeepers can confidently cover so much ground safely.
His handling is excellent too. Usually people are referring to the ability to take crosses when they mention handling, but I’m thinking about his comfort at fielding long shots.
The value of this attribute was obvious in the superb wins at Notts County and Mansfield. In both matches, we defended brilliantly, more or less restricting our opponents to shots from outside the box. In shooting from distance, County and Mansfield were literally playing into Okonkwo’s hands: he receives the ball so easily, absorbing the pace as the ball comes flying at him, that he makes such saves look easy.
There’s a real danger of a keeper spilling such strikes into the danger area, but he absorbs the pace of the ball naturally. His save from Kyle Cameron as Notts County strived to haul their way back into the game was the perfect illustration of this part of Okonkwo’s game. The County skipper unleashed an absolute rocket from 25 yards, but Okwonkwo took it comfortably, absorbing the pace of the ball like an airbag.
His languid movements reflect a calm personality which was showcased when he chatted with Mark Howard on the latter’s excellent “Yours, Mine, Away” podcast. Okonkwo is a likeable character: a cool customer whose calmness is as reassuring to his defenders as his personality is attractive to supporters.
The one concern we have about Okonkwo is around his future. The intention was to sign him permanently, but the time constraints of a deadline day deal meant we ended up signing him on loan for a season, hoping to make the move permanent when his contract expires next summer.
Some fans are concerned that Arsenal, his parent club, might recall him in the mid-season transfer window, as they did last season when he was withdrawn from Crewe Alexandra.
However, that seems highly unlikely. He was recalled because an offer to play at a higher level was made, so Arsenal sent him to Austria to further his development.
It would appear that The Gunners don’t intend to offer him a new contract. If that’s the case, they have nothing to gain from bringing him back to North London.
Obviously, that contact expiration will make him a free agent, and a full season of exposure at Wrexham will alert scouts to his quality. We have the advantage of being able to discuss a permanent deal in January, having given him a taste of what the club has to offer. However, there are bound to be offers from higher divisions, so we need to make sure he sees the benefits of sticking around.
Those benefits are rather obvious, though. We’re no longer a selling club, as we can offer players so much now: the potential to rise up the divisions; the adulation of a rapidly-increasing fan base; competitive wages; and the opportunity to rub shoulders with A-list celebrities.
Okonkwo is on show this season, but he’s already found a place where he’s loved. Hopefully that will influence his decision once it comes to deciding his long term future.
DragonHeart 
I LOVE me some Arthur – I even wrote a poem for him in late October – ENJOY:
Okonkwo is a human shield
Nothing get past him on the Racecourse field!
Arthur’s amazing, he’s a keeper Monster
Makes me forget I loved Ben Foster!
Put on the gloves – give us some love
Okonkwo goes beyond and above!
Love me some Lainton, love me some Howard
But Okonkwo’s got keeper super powers!
Notts can’t touch him & not Sutton U
And Arthur left Salford City feeling blue!
With Okonkwo in goal, he’s never lazing
6’6” with mad skills – totally amazing!
Forget Arsenal and stay in Wales
If Arthur’s in goal, Wrexham can’t fail!