Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo says it was always the plan to ease him in with Wrexham, following his first league clean sheet in midweek.

Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo moved on loan to Wrexham AFC for the season, and it initially looked like he might struggle to get consistent minutes.

The goalkeeper quickly made his debut in the EFL Trophy, keeping a clean sheet, but he was then on the bench for the following three matches in League Two.

That changed at the weekend, with the goalkeeper making an appearance against Crewe Alexandra, and he followed that up with a clean sheet against Mansfield Town on Tuesday night.

Speaking to Wrexham’s YouTube channel after the game, Okonkwo insisted he was never worried, as Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson had made it clear from the beginning that he would be eased into the side.

“The manager’s really looked after me well,” Okonkwo said. When I first arrived he said ‘Look, we’re going to take it easy, not rush you in too quickly, get you used to the squad’.

“I have full trust in the manager and he’s brought me in, slowly, and it’s worked until now.”

As for keeping a first clean sheet in the league for Wrexham, Okonkwo was pleased to have helped the team.

“It’s a good feeling,” the young goalkeeper said. “I just try my best to help the team as much as I can.

“If that’s a clean sheet, if that’s an assist, if that’s a good kick, it doesn’t matter for me.”

With two clean sheets in his first three games in all competitions, Okonkwo is certainly making his case for further chances in the coming weeks.

Wrexham will travel away to Crawley Town in their next game on Saturday, October 7th at 15:00 BST.