Arsenal keeper Arthur Okonkwo drops awful pre-season blunder days after new deal

Arsenal got their pre-season campaign off to the worst possible start as rookie goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo dropped a huge clanger in a friendly against Hibernian.

Mikel Arteta named a strong team for his side's first pre-season workout, with stars including Willian, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Pablo Mari all starting the match at Easter Road.

There was no place for regular first-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno, however, who is still on holiday following Germany's Euro 2020 exploits.

That meant a golden opportunity for 19-year-old Okonkwo, but it was a debut to forget for the stopper after he made a horrendous error that gave Hibernian the lead midway through the first-half.

Okonkwo failed to deal with an awkward pass-back from Cedric which allowed Hibs forward Martin Boyle to skip round the stranded star and tap into an empty net.

Gunners fans on social media were not impressed with the error.

One wrote: "Why has he been promoted to the first team just sign a keeper @Arsenal."

Another said: "Young keeper but hells bells that’s shocking just put 5m on Ramsdales price."

A third person added: "Watching the Arsenal friendly. Their keeper Okonkwo has just had an absolute shocker, Hibs 1-0 up with an open goal."

While a fourth Twitter user chimed in with: "What the f*** was the keeper doing. He doesn't look comfortable at all."

Okonkwo is one of Arsenal's brightest young stars and signed a new long-term contract with the club last week.

The prodigy spent last season in-and-around the first-team, regularly training with the main group of players and travelling with the matchday squad as the third keeper on several occasions.

Do you think Arsenal need to sign a new goalkeeper this summer? Let us know in the comments section.

In a statement on the club website after Okonkwo's new deal was announced, Arteta said: "Arthur was working and travelling a lot with the first team last season and we have all seen his quality at first hand.

"He is a strong young goalkeeper with great potential and we’re so pleased he has signed a new deal. He has absolutely earned his place in the first-team squad.

"Arthur will now join us every single day in training, where we look forward to watching him continue to develop and improve his goalkeeping."

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