Chelle eyes former Arsenal goalkeeper with 16 clean sheets in 28 appearances

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is keeping a close watch on Arthur Okonkwo, a former Arsenal goalkeeper who now plays for League One side Wrexham, Footynaija.com reports.

In a report by Legit.ng, the Super Eagles head coach is said to be eyeing the in-form shot-stopper as he looks to strengthen Nigeria’s goalkeeping options ahead of important fixtures.

Since taking charge of the Nigerian national football team, Chelle has been focused on rebuilding the team, especially in problem areas like the goalkeeping department.

Stanley Nwabali has done well since making the number one spot his own at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Nigeria reach the final. But there’s still a strong feeling that more competition is needed to keep the standard high.

The likes of Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye have fallen down the order, and Chelle has been searching for fresh options to challenge Nwabali.

His attention had earlier turned to Noah Atubolu of SC Freiburg, but the Germany-born keeper is still aiming to break into the German national team and has kept his focus there.

Okonkwo, meanwhile, has caught the eye with his performances for Wrexham this season. He has been in fine form as the club pushes for a third consecutive promotion.

At Wrexham AFC, Okonkwo is enjoying a solid spell, keeping 16 clean sheets in 28 appearances so far this season. His performances have helped keep Wrexham second in the table, and he currently ranks second for the most clean sheets in League One. His progress this season has put him firmly on Chelle’s radar.

Although he has represented England at youth level, he remains eligible to play for Nigeria through his family background. Chelle is believed to see him as a promising addition to increase competition in the squad, as he continues to widen the pool of players for the national team.

For Chelle, the target is to build a stronger, more competitive squad to overcome recent struggles and make a real push in the coming qualifiers. Bringing in hungry and in-form players like Okonkwo could be an important part of that process.