Midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, 24, looks set to leave the Gunners after a rather unsuccessful three-year spell with Arsenal. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano tweeted a quote from an interview Lokonga had given to VOOsport. The Belgium international said, “My time at Arsenal is slowly coming to the end, I think so. I had a discussion with the club and what was said is that the best solution for me was to leave.”
Lokonga, a box-to-box midfielder, was signed by Arsenal from Anderlecht in 2021 for a reported fee of £17 million. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was reportedly impressed with the youngster’s intelligence and maturity. Lokonga made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2021/22 Premier League season, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 away loss at Brentford.
The Belgian has struggled for game time in an Arsenal shirt. He made just 12 starts for the Gunners in his first season at the club. After being sporadically used in the opening half of the next season, he was loaned out to Crystal Palace. However, he struggled for minutes in the Premier League for the Eagles.
Lokonga then spent another season on loan at Premier League newcomers Luton Town, where he managed 16 starts. An hamstring injury ruled him out for almost three months, causing him to miss more than 10 Premier League games. Despite the club getting relegated, the midfielder put in some solid displays for the Hatters. He now returns to North London without being in Arteta’s plans.
With his last Premier League appearance for Arsenal coming way back in October 2022 as a substitute in a 3-1 derby win over Tottenham, Lokonga will be looking for a club that offers him regular game time. With his impressive ball carrying abilities and high work rate, Arsenal will be hoping to recoup a sizable chunk of the £17 million they paid for him.
