Arsenal loanee keeps clean sheet on home debut | OneFootball

Arsenal youngster Brian Okonkwo kept the first clean sheet of his loan spell at Hitchin Town on Saturday, helping his team to a win over Banbury.

Photo via Hitchin Town FC on Twitter

Arsenal youth goalkeeper Brian Okonkwo completed a loan move to Hitchin Town on January 31st, with the two clubs announcing the deal a day later.

That timing was crucial, as it allowed Okonkwo to feature for Hitchin in their match against Stourbridge on February 1st. The club gave “huge thanks” to Arsenal for getting the loan done on time.

Yet it wasn’t the ideal start for Okonkwo, as Hitchin lost 3-1. He had a chance to help the team back to winning ways this Saturday, and it was an opportunity he took.

Photo via Hitchin Town FC on Twitter

Saturday wasn’t technically Okonkwo’s first start at Hitchin’s home ground Top Field. The youngster had a one-game emergency loan to the same club in 2023, playing in a 1-1 draw.

But this was his home debut for this new loan spell, so a clean sheet against Banbury to impress the fans was exactly what was needed.

Okonkwo made a couple of key saves in the first half, with Bradley Smith giving the hosts the lead for 1-0. The goalkeeper was then called upon again late in the second half to deny an equaliser from a free-kick, ultimately securing three points.

Photo via Arsenal.com

After making his second appearance for Hitchin, Okonkwo has already played half as many times as he managed for the Arsenal academy in the first six months of the campaign.

Young goalkeepers Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard joined over the summer, and Okonkwo already faced competition from Alexei Rojas in his own age group.

Then recent first-team debutant Jack Porter has also been making the step up despite only turning 16 in 2024.

The pathway to matches was blocked at Arsenal, but this loan to Hitchin already looks to be opening the door to regular minutes.

Photo via Arsenal.com

Hitchin sit 19th in the Southern Football League Premier Division Central, the seventh tier of the English football league system.

The team are currently in one of the relegation places, so they need all the help they can get between now and May. Saturday’s win puts them just one point off 18th place and an escape from the bottom four.