Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has admitted that the Gunners are capable of ‘big things’ this season ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Liverpool.
The Gunners host the Reds on Thursday night at the Emirates Stadium with just 90 minutes separating them and a place against Chelsea in the Wembley final.
The scores are of course level after Arsenal produced a stunning rearguard action at Anfield last week.
Reaching a major domestic final would be quite a turnaround from Mikel Arteta's men considering they started the season with three consecutive defeats, with questions then being sent the manager’s way.
Lokonga has admitted that despite their tricky beginning to the campaign, he still believes the Gunners are good enough to experience glory.
Talking to Arsenal ’s official website, the 22-year-old said: "We needed a little bit of time because we had a lot of new players and I feel now we know each other and I think we can see that on the pitch.
"We have to keep going and keep our standard very high because we have the quality to do big things."
Whilst the team as a whole needed some time to get their season up and running, Lokonga has also conceded that he also required a period to get used to his surroundings following a summer move from Anderlecht.
The Belgian midfielder has since made 17 appearances for the Gunners, and is expected to be a hugely prominent figure over the coming weeks, with Granit Xhaka's suspension - as well as Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny's Africa Cup of Nations commitments.
He continued: "I was doubting, I was doubting if the Premier League was the best league in the world but now I’m here I can confirm that the Premier League is the best league in the world.
"Between the Premier League and the Belgian league, there is so much difference. The level here is a lot higher so I needed time to adapt. I think I’m still adapting myself to the Premier League so game after game I will be better and year after year I will be better."
Despite that period of adaptation, Lokonga was left in no doubt where his future lied after initially being told of Arsenal’s interest by Anderlecht president Wouter Vandenhaute.
He said: "I heard about it a few games from the end of the season so I was playing with Anderlecht. I had the president who asked me 'Do you think you will be travelling to Arsenal?'
"I don't hesitate and I say yes, I want to go and I think I'm ready to go. It was a really good step for me to join this big club."
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