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Arsenal made a serious error allowing ‘incredible’ talent to leave last summer and it’s gone completely under the radar

Lucas Arnold

Mon 10 February 2025 12:15, UK

Since Edu Gaspar’s departure, Arsenal fans have had a lot to say about their former sporting director’s final transfers at the club.

Edu departed Arsenal in November following a summer that saw all of Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, Neto and Raheem Sterling arrive in north London.

At the time, it felt as if the Gunners had cleverly strengthened their squad depth, but hindsight has drawn up some alternative conclusions.

Calafiori and Merino haven’t improved Arsenal’s starting eleven if they have boosted the options available to Arteta.

And in reality, Arsenal’s starting side did need improving – it wasn’t good enough to win a trophy last term.

But there’s actually one error that Arsenal made that very few are talking about, the club’s failure to keep young goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo in N5.

Arsenal should have never let Arthur Okonkwo leave

23-year-old Okonkwo came all the way through Arsenal’s Hale End academy, a goalkeeper with a big frame and impressive agility.

Okonkwo spent last season on loan at Wrexham in League Two, where he seriously impressed as their new number one.

READ MORE: £50m midfielder who Arsenal want to sign admits he actually wants to join Real Madrid

Upon returning to Arsenal in the summer, the club decided against keeping the goalkeeper, a decision that stemmed from goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, TBR Football understands.

And in reality, that now appears like a big error on both Cana and Edu’s part, a goalkeeper who is currently proving why he was ready to be David Raya’s understudy, at least for this season.

Arsenal wanted Joan Garcia in the summer to come in as Raya’s number two, but they should have actually been pressing to keep homegrown Okonkwo at the club, negating the need to use a loan spot for Neto’s eventual arrival.

Okonkwo is now impressing for Wrexham

Now playing in League One, Okonkwo has proved that he’s capable of being a number two at a Premier League club, especially one like Arsenal who he adores.

Playing at Wrexham is no easy gig right now given their expectation and all of the media attention around the club, but the former Arsenal man is coping well.

Even in the past when he was on loan at Crewe Alexander Okonkwo was being tipped as an ‘’ talent for the future, and the Gunners let a good one go.

Understandably, Cana has the final say on Arsenal’s goalkeepers – he’s the expert.

But from the outside looking in it’s hard to understand why Okonkwo couldn’t be trusted as number two.

Okonkwo is arguably in better equipped to contribute than Neto right now, who looked terribly rusty away in Girona in the Champions League recently.

A puzzling situation, and one that Arsenal seemingly didn’t get right.