Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds receive a significant boost to their Wrexham transfers  due to….

Wrexham will be able to keep goalkeeper Arthur Okwonko until the end of the season after the deadline passed for parent club Arsenal to recall him, giving the promotion-chasers a major boost

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has outlined his relief after Arsenal decided against triggering a contract clause that could have seen on-loan goalkeeper Arthur Okwonko recalled.

The Red Dragons’ Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney pulled off a major coup in securing the services of the Gunners youngster on a temporary deal in the summer. The England youth international essentially replaced Ben Foster and arrived with significant pedigree, having starred on loan at Sturm Graz in Austria last term

After continuing his rise with a strong star to the League Two campaign in North Wales, club chiefs had been concerned that his stay could prove fleeting. His parent club did reserve the right trigger a clause in their agreement to bring him back before January 21, leading to fears that he could head back to the Emirates.

However, those concerns have now been allayed after the deadline passed for the North London club to recall him from his season-long loan. The 22-year-old has played 22 times for Wrexham in all competitions since joining in September but briefly returned to the Gunners’ Colney base for treatment on a jaw injury sustained in December.

Now, Dragons boss Parkinson hailed the Gunners’ decision to allow the stopper to remain in North Wales for the time being as they continue to chase promotion to the third tier. Praising Okwonko for his contributions so far, he said: “It’s a massive signing for us to keep Arthur, he’s been exceptional for us.

“He’s a great lad and has bought in to everything the club is about. He’s moved up here and he’s been great to have around, but not just that, he’s a terrific goalkeeper. When someone plays well you always worry that they’ve caught the eye of other teams. So yes, I was pleased when the clock struck 12 after the 21st.”