One Arsenal player missed his chance to impress the coaches and fans in the game against Oxford United last night as he struggles for regular game time.
Mikel Arteta has favoured other players at the club and found the Oxford game the perfect match to give a chance to Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The Belgian has not been good enough for Arteta’s side for some time now and that game offered him an opportunity to shut the mouths of his critics.
However, the ex-Anderlecht teenager did not impress and has been called out by former Arsenal forward Kevin Campbell.
“They’re trying. But if you get an opportunity against Oxford, you’ve got to take it. Kieran Tierney did alright. But Lokonga, he wants to stake a claim. He looked way off it, he did. He didn’t look good enough tonight,” he told Highbury Squad.
“For the manager to trust you, to put you in, you’ve got to start taking these opportunities. So if anyone happens in the first-team, Sambi’s ready. Sambi’s not ready.
“To affect the game, he had to take Sambi off.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Sambi Lokonga will rue this missed chance because he might not have another one to start a game, considering this is an important stage of the campaign and opportunities will be few.
Hopefully, when he next plays, he will make up for the lost time, but it is hard to see that happening anytime soon.
Apart from the first half of last season when he started some games and showed signs of a promising player unfortunately we have seen anything of the like since then.
After watching that performance from him yesterday, I am now more convinced we need a central midfielder who can help progress the ball and dictate play but can also help out defensively over a pure DM which can wait till the summer. Think it’s clear to see Arteta is content with Elneny as backup to Partey(regardless of what we think) so someone to backup Xhaka is necessity. Lokonga needs a Loan badly.
Lokonga had a bad game and seem to have regressed. Send him out on loan. This is one game he ought to have staked his claim.
This kid needs a loan like yesterday. He’s the same age as Matteo Guendouzi but good enough to replace him.
Not good enough to replace Matteo
@Gabo
Thank you 👍🏾
You mean he was meant to replace him.so far he has failed.also I watched closely against Oxford to see his vision,close control..that GAI talks about!!
Loan him out and bring Azeez back for cover. Should be buying a CM/DM as a priority.
Not all the players we bring in make it, some like our manager need more time. Whats the hurry?
Try Pricing Camavinga” of Real M.. Might work despite whatever the price would be.
There is a good footballer in there but he has had very limited playing time.
A loan spell for a season or two would really benefit him.
How much did we pay for this kid and could we get that value for him now?
We bought him for 17.5 million when his market value was 12 million. He is supposed to be worth now around 15 million.
How can a player establish himself with a few minutes playing time.? I blame the players themselves for changing clubs knowing full well that it won’t be easy to make the new team
He is a good player. He has played as DM and did not too badly. On Monday he played CM for the first time I think as a Xhaka replacement. He will need time to get accustomed to that role. I hope he gets more opportunities. Arsenal is known for developing players because the club is patient with its players. I call for patience!!
I’m tempted to give up every time I remember Sambi is Older than Camavinga and Tchoumeini! The bad memories of united’s two quickfire goals never seem to go away. We are never conceding at least one of those goals if Mo or TP is fit. Sambi needs to step up.
My opinion is that MA has now realised after Lokonga’s latest failure to impress , at Oxford, that he is not going to make the grade at our level.
A loan will follow and then, down the line, his sale! UNLESS a possible swap with a money sweetener can be arranged .
I hope it can , as I HAVE LOST ALL HOPE OF LOKONGA BEING WORTH KEEPING.