ARSENAL fans are worried their on-loan goalkeeper has “lost the plot” after a calamitous mistake in the FA Cup.
Arthur Okonkwo, 22, is spending this season on loan at Wrexham as Ben Foster’s replacement at the League Two club.
And, after a brief return to Arsenal for jaw surgery in December, he started in between the sticks for the Welsh outfit in the FA Cup fourth-round clash away at Blackburn.
However, the young goalkeeper showed his inexperience with a nightmare moment in the first half at Ewood Park.
Wrexham had taken a shock early lead before Sam Szmodics’ equaliser just after the half-hour mark.
And then just two minutes later, Rovers were gifted the lead by Okonkwo.
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Sam Gallagher did well to flick the ball down the left channel and was in a race with a Wrexham defender to get to the ball first.
But Okonkwo rushed far out of his box and was beaten to the ball by Gallagher who simply rolled an easy finish past the helpless goalkeeper and into the unguarded net.
The BBC Sport commentator said: “Okonkwo again dithers and Gallagher punishes him.
“Two goals in two minutes and a night to forget for Arthur Okonkwo in goal for Wrexham.
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“It was easy for Gallagher, the goalkeeper made his mind up for him. It’s almost an open goal.”
To make things force for Okonkwo, he took a whack from his own defender trying to get back and cover for his blunder.
The co-commentator added: “Okonkwo has looked nervy, he’s looked casual.
“There’s absolutely no need for him to come out as early as he does. It’s not like he comes out and commits.”
And Gunners fans watched through their fingers at their England youth international stopper, who previously had loan spells with Crewe and SK Sturm Graz.
One tweeted: “Okonkwo has lost the plot.”
Another wrote: “What on Earth was Okonkwo doing? I mean just what????”
‘YIKES’
A third added: “Big fan of the kid, but that’s poor from Okonkwo, far too easy.”
A fourth replied: “What on Earth is Okonkwo doing there? He ends up OUTSIDE of the box come time for the shot. So even if he miraculously got a hand to it, he would have been off! A keeper that has been quality this season and has bags of potential, too. Yikes…”
And a final user brutally commented: “Arthur Okonkwo has lettuce hands. Goodnight.”
But other supporters tried to remain positive.
One said: “One bad game doesn’t define a player. Arthur Okonkwo is still a top keeper.”
Another responded: “The best keepers in the world have bad games. Okonkwo is a kid in goalkeeping terms. He’ll be better for making and learning from the mistakes. The guy is a class act.”
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Okonkwo’s evening got even worse when Szmodics made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time before Sondre Tronsade wrapped up the victory for Blackburn after the break – with Okonkwo coming out wearing a protective face mask for the second half.
Rovers will be at home again in round five as they welcome Newcastle to Ewood Park.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
