Arthur Okonkwo kept a clean sheet in the ÖFB Cup final against Rapid Vienna to win the competition with Sturm Graz on Sunday.

  • Arthur Okonkwo wins the ÖFB Cup with Sturm Graz, keeping a clean sheet in the final against Rapid Vienna.
  • The young Arsenal goalkeeper helped Sturm Graz secure a spot in the Europa League and they could even make the Champions League.
  • Okonkwo’s mid-season move from Crewe Alexandra to Sturm Graz has proven successful, providing him with valuable experience competing for trophies.
Arthur Okonkwo playing for Sturm Graz (Photo via Okonkwo on Instagram)
Arthur Okonkwo playing for Sturm Graz (Photo via Okonkwo on Instagram)

Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo won the first major honour of his young career at the weekend, lifting the Austrian domestic cup with Sturm Graz.

Okonkwo started the season in League Two, playing for Crewe Alexandra. But after hitting double figures for clean sheets by the middle of the campaign, he’d drawn interest from across Europe.

Austrian side Sturm Graz agreed with Arsenal that they’d recall and re-loan the goalkeeper to them for the remainder of the season.

Sturm Graz were competing on two fronts, playing in the Austrian Bundesliga and the ÖFB Cup, and Okonkwo has particularly impressed in the latter competition.

The Arsenal loanee actually made his debut in the cup, playing against Austrian heavyweights RB Salzburg. The match finished 1-1, before Okonkwo made a save in the shootout to help his side progress on penalties.

In the semi-final, Sturm Graz faced LASK, and Okonkwo kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.

That led us to Sunday’s final against Rapid Vienna, and once again, Okonkwo kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win.

Arthur Okonkwo celebrating winning the OFB Cup with Sturm Graz (Photo via Okonkwo on Instagram)
Arthur Okonkwo celebrating winning the OFB Cup with Sturm Graz (Photo via Okonkwo on Instagram)

There’s still time for further success this season, with Sturm Graz competing near the top of the Austrian Bundesliga. They sit three points behind league-leaders Salzburg as it stands, with five games remaining.

That includes a game against Salzburg on May 21st, so it’s all still to play for.

As the Austrian cup winners, Sturm Graz are assured participation in next season’s Europa League, at least.

They could even make the Champions League depending on their league finish, with first place guaranteed a group stage spot and second place making the qualifiers.

Arsenal and Okonkwo took a risk by moving the goalkeeper mid-season, given his guaranteed starting spot in Crewe.

But the chance to compete for trophies and European qualification is fantastic experience for the youngster, so it’s a good thing they were bold.