![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/7BmSWv8q7iiTR8-hvQX3D0LepoY=\/750x500\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2Fimago1056030943.jpg\")
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Bukayo Saka of Arsenal warms up. [Photo credit\/ Imago]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Super Eagles and Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has opened up about\u00a0his conversation with\u00a0Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka in the aftermath of the 2026 UEFA Champions League final,\u00a0Soccernet.ng<\/u><\/a>\u00a0reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Premier League champions suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed a second consecutive Champions League title in the final held at the Pusk\u00e1s Arena in Budapest on May 30.<\/p>\n Arsenal were playing in their first final in 20 years and only their second in the club\u2019s history, but they could not make it count as they missed out on Europe\u2019s elite club competition once again, extending their long wait for\u00a0the title.<\/p>\n Despite taking an early lead through Kai Havertz, they struggled to create more chances and were put under pressure by PSG. The French champions\u00a0eventually\u00a0equalized\u00a0in the second half through Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, who converted a spot-kick after a foul by Cristhian Mosquera on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. With the score tied at 1-1 after extra time, the match went to penalties.<\/p>\n Eberechi Eze and Nuno Mendes both missed for their respective sides, before Gabriel Magalh\u00e3es missed the final and decisive kick that ended Arsenal\u2019s hopes and handed PSG their second successive Champions League title.<\/p>\n Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo graduated from Arsenal\u2019s Hale End academy alongside Bukayo Saka. However, he had no clear pathway to the first team and eventually left in search of regular playing time to join Wrexham.<\/p>\n Speaking in an interview with\u00a0Ratings<\/strong>, the two-cap Super Eagles goalkeeper revealed that he still maintains a close relationship with Saka and shared details of their conversation following Arsenal\u2019s Champions League final defeat.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the one in the squad that I still talk to the most is Bukayo\u201d,\u00a0Okonkwo said, via r.org.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cYou know, he was a bit sad, but they had such an unbelievable season. They took PSG all the way, and they\u2019re really proud of themselves, as they should be. The club has done so well, and that\u2019s the conversation I had with him. He\u2019s still positive, and I think they\u2019ll go again next season.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n While Saka chose to represent England despite being eligible for Nigeria, Okonkwo has gone the other way.\u00a0The Wrexham goalkeeper made his Super Eagles debut in a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe<\/u><\/a>\u00a0at the 2026 Unity Cup in May and\u00a0kept clean sheets\u00a0in\u00a0both\u00a0matches as Nigeria lifted the trophy, marking an impressive start to his international career.<\/p>\n However, his future at\u00a0the English club\u00a0remains uncertain ahead of the transfer window, with his current contract due to expire at the end of next season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/oF1fuElzh_IZpG3MqQ3bSYW3lUY=\/2700x1800\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1078044719.jpg\")
Soccer Super Eagles star on Saka\u2019s feelings after UCL final<\/h2>\n
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![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/9HFlj8RtGoRFXZDEubXRaNDrdrc=\/4083x2916\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1075655256.jpg\")
Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/ycGEJDr9VZlpO_5zujn3ZdvICxA=\/150×150\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2FAyomide-Oguntimehin-pics.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n