In a League Two fixture where Mansfield Town had the upper hand, Wrexham managed to scrape through with a hard-fought draw, largely due to an exceptional goalkeeping display by Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo.
In a match that saw Wrexham struggle to make an impact, Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo emerged as the saving grace during a goalless draw against Mansfield Town.
The match took place at One Call Stadium on Tuesday night and was dominated by the hosts, Mansfield, who had the majority of possession and goal-scoring opportunities.
Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham side managed to hold on for a point, owing much to Okonkwo’s standout performance.
The result leaves Wrexham in ninth place, with 17 points from their first 11 League Two matches this season.
They find themselves just two points adrift of the play-offs and a single win away from the automatic promotion spots.
In a game that saw Mansfield enjoy 59% possession with 19 shots compared to Wrexham’s seven, “Wrexham held on for a hard-fought point away to promotion-chasing rivals Mansfield,” said a Goal.com report. The match report also highlighted that the Welsh side were the second-best on the night but underlined the significance of the draw for Wrexham’s campaign.
The true standout of the evening was Arthur Okonkwo, the 22-year-old goalkeeper on loan from Arsenal.
He denied Mansfield’s Aaron Lewis and Davis Keillor-Dunn in the first 30 minutes of the game. Okonkwo also made a remarkable save to thwart Ollie Clarke’s long-range effort.
His performance was vital in ensuring that Wrexham kept a clean sheet and secured a share of the points.
According to stats, Okonkwo had a FotMob rating of 8.5 (the highest of any player from either side by some distance) and made five out of five saves during the match.
His performance metrics showed that he faced an expected goals on target (xGOT) of 1.17.
Okonkwo also managed 16 out of 31 accurate passes and 10 out of 25 accurate long balls. His stats further indicate three diving saves and three saves inside the box, adding to his tally of 12 recoveries and 42 touches over the course of the 90-minute match.
While Wrexham’s struggle to impress offensively continues, the Arsenal loanee’s exceptional form between the sticks serves as a silver lining.
Okonkwo’s performance drew attention not just for the saves but for keeping Wrexham in a game where they were outplayed by their opponents.
In a season where every point counts towards promotion, Okonkwo’s influence could be the determining factor for Wrexham in the tightly contested League Two.
While the team will look to improve their attacking potency, the secure hands of their loanee goalkeeper from Arsenal offer much-needed reassurance at the back.