Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should consider changing his stance on the future of one Arsenal loanee this summer.
Mikel Arteta will have to trim his Arsenal squad this summer.
There are a number of Arsenal players who may be set to leave the club.
Midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga is amongst those who have been mooted to be on the verge of an Emirates Stadium exit.
Lokonga himself recently stated that he has no future at Arsenal. The Belgian certainly wasn’t in Arteta’s plans this season as he spent the campaign on loan with Luton Town.
Albert Sambi Lokonga sends message to Arsenal with Luton form
Whilst injuries punctuated his season, restricting him to just 19 appearances across all competitions for the Hatters, Lokonga was regularly able to impress when he did make it onto the pitch. He pitched in with one goal and three assists, and whilst he couldn’t save Luton Town from relegation, he was able to catch the eye with his work-rate and quality of passing in the middle of the park.
The 24-year-old impressed some big names in the game. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed his admiration for Lokonga.
On top of that, Gary Neville also described Lokonga as “outstanding,” after he once again shone for Luton Town.
It does seem that the once-capped Belgium international is set to say farewell to Arsenal this summer, but there is certainly an argument that he could contribute for the Gunners next season if he were to remain at the club.
Why Mikel Arteta should reconsider his stance on Albert Sambi Lokonga
Arteta has work to do on his midfield contingent. Mohamed Elneny is about to leave as a free agent, Jorginho is in the twilight years of his career, and Arsenal now need to move on from Thomas Partey.
A marquee midfield signing is likely, but the Gunners could also do with additional depth in that part of the pitch. Lokonga has shown this season that he can impress in the Premier League and he looks to have grown as a player, in terms of being able to stamp his authority on matches.
Arteta has shown faith in Lokonga in the past. In the player’s first season on the books at Arsenal he made 24 appearances across all competitions. The midfielder is now a better player than he was then, much more comfortable with the challenges offered by English football, and could prove a very useful squad option to Arteta.
It seems, though, that Arteta has his mind made up.