Albert Sambi Lokonga will spend the next 12 months on loan at Luton Town, a move confirmed this evening.
The Belgium international moves to Kenilworth Road in search of more regular playing time.
Lokonga featured regularly for the Gunners in his first six months at Emirates Stadium but gradually fell out of favour as he struggled to get to grips with the pressures of the holding midfield position.
The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace but only played 536 minutes in total. In fairness, it didn’t help that the man who signed him, Patrick Vieira, was sacked within weeks of his arrival.
An injury picked up in pre-season denied Lokonga the opportunity to stake a claim for a place in Mikel Arteta’s squad this season – he missed both the training camp in Germany and the tour of the USA – although, realistically, it was always a bit of a long shot given the midfield options currently at the Spaniard’s disposal.
Fingers crossed, Sambi gets a chance to rebuild his confidence at Luton.
Oh dear! I hope what is certain to be a season long relegation battle – and one likely to end in defeat – does not leave indelible scars on his confidence.
Basedcon yesterday’s game against west ham, luton is definitely going down.
I feel it’s a good sign that Brighton were interested in s permanent deal this summer. He’s clearly still rated and a decent hear this year should really help him push on.
Mend the attitude and work hard and he could rejoin the side when elneny moves on next summer, but I think he’s burnt his bridges with arteta and this is shop window time.
Make or break for Sambi at the Hatters. Hopefully it’s the making of him. There’s a great player in there somewhere.
Really how he does well and we see the best of him at Luton. Will be character building for sure. We deserve to see his level in the league because I don’t think he’s ever really had a fair crack.
Guendouzi, Torreira and Sambi. This is where we have made the most mistakes, though it was not obvious when we signed them. Hope Sambi finds his feet this season.
We are still stuck with Pepe and Cedric
…until the Saudis come calling, hopefully.
Mbs is more likely to come calling for the players we want to keep.
Wonder if he could have been given the chance to develop into the xhaka role while being behind rowe and vieira rather than pouring 65 mil down the drain.
We don’t know anything about Kai yet really. We haven’t seen him with Zinchenko and Jesus to bounce passes to and off before arriving late for a chance at goal. Down the drain is a bit exaggerated for a role that is clearly complicated and isn’t going to be figured out overnight
Just my 2c