Wrexham get transfer boost as Arsenal release player compared to Michael Jordan by Rob McElhenney

Wrexham will no doubt be put on red alert following the release of on-loan star Arthur Okonkwo at Arsenal.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper spent the 2023/24 season with the welsh costumewhere he expertly filled the void left by Ben Foster.

An England youth international, Okonkwo quickly established himself as the club's first choice, making 40 appearances in all competitions.

In total, 36 of his outings came in League Two, where he kept 14 clean sheets to help Wrexham return to League One for the first time since 2005.

But despite his heroics at the Hippodrome, he was not offered a contract extension in north London, with Okonkwo being one of 22 players named on the list. Gunner Release List.

ArsenalThe loss could be Wrexham's gain as the club's Hollywood co-owner Rob McElhenney, a big admirer of the youngster, waxed lyrical about the player during the final season of 'Welcome to Wrexham'.

Okonkwo was compared to NBA legend Michael Jordan by McElhenny, who explained the concept of loan transfers to the documentary's American audience.

The 'Always Sunny in Philadelphia' actor said: “He's a Premier League level goalkeeper who happens to be young and doesn't have a place in the Arsenal team yet.

“It would be like it was 1985 and the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan and they say, 'Well, you're a 20-year-old kid.'

“Then the Philadelphia 76ers said, 'Hey, guess what, Chicago? We'll just take him off his hands for two or three years and then we'll build him up because he can start with us and we can send him back to you.'

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“Then he comes to Philly, wins like three championships and they say 'Cool, let's start a dynasty,' but then Chicago says 'Fuck you, we'll take him back.' That's exactly what it is!”

Meanwhile, Okonkwo's former Wrexham teammate Mark Howard labeled him a “cheat code” after being impressed with him in training.

Howard, who invited Okonkwo to his Yours, Mine, Away! PodcastHe asked about the player's height, and the goalkeeper revealed that he is 6 feet 6 inches tall.

To which Howard commented, “Now, while we're at it, can we talk about your jump test because you're a weird fellow?

“We asked you to do this at the gym the other day and it wasn't fun, you're a cheat code on yourself, dude.”

And McElhenney and fellow co-owner Ryan Reynolds will surely hope their great relationship convinces Okonkwo to move down the football pyramid to continue his development in the game.

Okonkwo told the Mirror: “When we had a third consecutive defeat, Rob McElhenney called me immediately after the game and simply said: 'Keep doing what you are doing, you have been excellent for us and I have no doubt that you will be back to full fitness.

‌“It was very good to get that call, they were very supportive and I was very happy with the way they supported me and helped me. They are very involved, they want the team to win every week and they let us know.

“You get texts, they get to as many games as possible and you don’t get that from every owner.

‌“They are passionate about the club and, although they are very busy, they try to get involved as much as they can. “I'm not surprised by the success Wrexham has had because they are so committed to the project.”