Arthur Okonkwo saved a penalty from RB Salzburg to help knock them out of the OFB Cup on his debut for Sturm Graz this week.

Arthur Okonkwo celebrating with Sturm Graz (Photo via Okonkwo on Instagram)
Arthur Okonkwo celebrating with Sturm Graz (Photo via Okonkwo on Instagram)

Arthur Okonkwo was one of a number of Arsenal players to swap one loan move for another in the January transfer window, but in his case, that was because his first spell went so well.

Playing for Crewe Alexandra in League Two, Okonkwo kept 10 clean sheets in 26 games in the first half of the season, earning plenty of praise around the division.

Arsenal decided to take the opportunity to help the young goalkeeper make a step up, recalling and re-loaning him to Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga.

The Bundesliga is currently on its winter break, so Okonkwo made his debut for his new loan club in the OFB Cup quarter-finals, against Austrian league leaders RB Salzburg.

After making five saves in the first 120 minutes of a 1-1 draw, Okonkwo had the chance to be a hero in the penalty shootout.

With Sturm Graz missing their first penalty, Okonkwo’s side were on the back foot throughout the shootout. But the goalkeeper made a big save from Salzburg’s fourth spot kick, and they then missed their sixth to lose the tie.

You can watch the highlights here, with Okonkwo’s penalty save at 7:38.

Arthur Okonkwo signing for Sturm Graz (Photo via Sturm Graz)
Arthur Okonkwo signing for Sturm Graz (Photo via Sturm Graz)

A penalty save and shootout win on your debut is pretty much the ideal result for a goalkeeper, particularly against the country’s top side.

Okonkwo will now aim to keep his place for the league games, as well as the cup semi-final they’ll now get to take part in.