When Arsenal began the drive to overhaul the squad, both manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu wanted to push the narrative towards youth. In 2021 the pair worked hard to bring in six players aged 23 and under.
Arsenal’s squad saw Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Nuno Tavares, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Albert Sambi Lokonga all arrive and integrate for the 2021/22 season. All made an impact throughout the campaign, some establishing themselves like the now England internationals White and Ramsdale, whereas for others a long-term future in north London remains in question.
Tavares for instance has gone out on loan after the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko saw him drop to third or, with Tomiyasu’s presence, potentially even fourth choice left-back. This has hugely benefited him and he has become a highly-regarded player in a squad that not only suits his style but offers consistent game time.
READ MORE: Granit Xhaka makes Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga point amid Arsenal rotation
This is where the discussion for Lokonga begins. Like Nuno Tavares, the Belgian faces the prospect of further competition arriving at the Emirates Stadium for the midfield to make his task of fighting for a place even harder.
Arsenal tried to sign Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa on transfer deadline day, a clear indication that the club are looking to strengthen. Granted, this was in response to a long-term injury to Mohamed Elneny, but the intention remains to improve the squad and make it not only competitive in the Champions League, should they qualify, but for a potential title challenge in the near future.
At present, Lokonga is not showing the level required to meet this expectation. Hence why if the club do strengthen in the midfield either this January or in the summer, a loan move away from the Gunners makes plenty of sense for Lokonga.
Marseille, who have Tavares now and previously William Saliba, have done a great job helping these young Gunners improve. Whether it is with OM or elsewhere, getting the regular game time Lokonga needs to impress is surely key to his future.
The worry is that the player himself doesn’t recognise it. football.london understands that the midfielder decided that he would push to show why he belongs at the club this season and did not look to seek more regular game time away for the current season.
In a recent interview, in which he also staunchly questioned Roberto Martinez’s decision to leave him out of the Belgian squad, Lokonga spoke of the benefit of playing for Arsenal. It is these words which could end up having the opposite intended impact.
“Honestly, it’s difficult,” he said. “I’m at one of the best clubs in England.
“I could have played somewhere else every weekend, but that wouldn’t have been the right solution for me. I develop better with 20 minutes of playing time at Arsenal than always playing elsewhere but always winning with 3 or 4-0.”
Perhaps a loan move for next season however is the right route for him to take. If he, at his age in his mid-twenties, decides to continue to play second fiddle it might instead cost him a successful future.
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