The best loan deals benefit all parties — and Albert Sambi Lokonga’s six-month switch from Arsenal to Crystal Palace is hoped to do just that.
After a decent display against Liverpool last weekend on his first 90-minute stint for Palace, the midfielder hopes to be handed another start at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Lokonga struggled at Arsenal following his £18million move in 2021, but Mikel Arteta and Patrick Vieira both see something in a player described by his former Anderlecht manager Vincent Kompany as “the new Yaya Toure”.
Partnered with Cheick Doucoure in midfield as Palace held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw, Vieira believes the 23-year-old can help Palace pull away from danger at the bottom of the table.
Vieira brought in Lokonga to add energy and functionality to a midfield that has missed the enterprise of Conor Gallagher this season.
Arteta and Arsenal hope regular football will help his development, which has stagnated since his move to the Premier League.
The Gunners are lining up a move for West Ham captain Declan Rice this summer, as Arteta looks to strengthen his midfield, and Lokonga’s future is uncertain.
Lokonga himself hopes the move can help him rediscover his best form following a difficult few years.
He will have three years left on his Arsenal contract in the summer and the next few months are crucial to his hopes of convincing Arteta to bring him back into his squad.
“My goals are to find myself back to be the Sambi that I have been when I arrived at Arsenal,” he said.
