Arsenal legend Ian Wright has discussed Albert Sambi Lokonga’s struggles after the midfielder annoyed Martin Odegaard in Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City.
The Belgian has struggled to play this season as Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey continue to stay fit and do well for the club.
Partey suffered an injury in the first half of the match against City and Lokonga came on for the Ghanaian.
Shortly after the restart, cameras caught Odegaard telling the Belgian to stay in position.
However, Wright has now defended the youngster and said what he needs is more playing time.
The Arsenal legend said via The Sun:
“With someone like Sambi, he needs minutes, he needs to be playing, he needs to be able to understand and be more wary of where he is and what he needs to do and where he needs to be dropping in.
“You’ve got to kind of sense that danger and that’s why he needs the minutes in games of this quality, because that’s where you learn.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Sambi Lokonga has not played enough minutes for Arsenal this term, which will affect his form.
The fewer games a player partakes in, the fewer his chances of developing well and becoming a top player in the group.
At 23, the Belgian still has time to reach his full potential, but if he does not play, it will be hard for him to develop.
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The problem with Lokanga seems to be more about the attitude and less about the aptitude
He needs playing time, but his low productivity doesn’t deserve more game time. It’s a vicious cycle, but it’s up to the player to step up.
Positioning errors, passing decisions, he should have understood the system by now. He’s been here a year; worked with coaching staff and studying video on games.
I agree it seems attitude not aptitude is the problem.
All he needs ..is to be sold .
Or at the very least loaned out ,heard a club in France do wonders with our players .
Harsh but he’s not good enough .
He really needs to be sharper when called in. That’s it.
The decision by Arteta to let go of Joe Willock for Sambi Lokongo is not one of his best since been a coach here.
Nope, willock was let go for Odegaard
Offensively Lokonga is good enough, he is a progressive passer with a 90+ percent completion rate (approximately 80% for long passes) who has been dispossessed fewer times per 90 minutes than both Partey and Xhaka this season. His Achilles Heel is his defense and for that, I agree with Wright, he does need to play. He hasn’t played a meaningful game against a quality team since October steps in against the reigning Champions, makes a defensive mistake gets yelled at by his manager and his captain and everyone wants his scalp. I believe Arsenal should send him out on loan, where he will play, before making a final decision on his Arsenal future, instead of tossing him aside and spending inflated prices for the depth he provides. Get rid of him now and Arsenal will eventually need three new midfielders.
He won’t get too much game time at Arsenal with the new incoming DM
Lokonga needs to be loaned out
SADLY FOR HIMSELF AND FOR US, Sambi has not kicked on and we are not in any position to grant him minutes on the pitch, saving dire injury situations.
He is training each day with top level players and that is where has to either show or not show his ability.
Wrighty is a good hearted fellow but he is not running our team, mercifully. We cannot and MA will not carry substandard players any longer than necessary!
I will be surprised if SAMBI IS AT ARSENAL, OR EVEN ON OUR BOOKS ON LOAN, COME NEXT SEASON. And I hope not too.
Jon Fox
I agree with your post, and feel Lokogna’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end.
Odegaard, Xhaka, White at RB, Gabriel at CB, Martinelli, Nketiah, to name a few, have all improved from last year and grasp Arteta’s system.
Lokogna has struggled to show any improvement, and soft words and excuses from Write won’t do for a professional athlete at a big club.
Lokogna has to get his mind right and have the willpower to push himself harder, or pack his bags tuck tail and leave. He isn’t competing for midfield starts or even proving adequate depth, he is taking up a roster spot and wasting wages.
Harsh probably, but no room for passengers or mediocrity, so he needs to shape up or ship out.
Durand Of couse we both and the large majority of Gooners think as one on this topic.
But I do not se it as “harsh” but as a necessity and I REMEMBER WE ARE NOT RUNNING A CHARITY FOR LESSER PLAYERS, BUT BUSTING A GUT FOR THE VERY BEST TEAM OUT THERE.
If and I believe WHEN Sambi is moved on, he will not starve, nor be without a career in football. . He is and will remain exceedingly wealthy, fit and young.
So I cannot possibly feel much sorrow for him in those fortunate circumstances and I REFUSE TO PRETEND THAT I WILL.
Honestly, Sambi’s issues have little to do with ability but more with attitude. Martinelli is changing his style, Gabriel’s passing and positional play has vastly improved, Xhaka has embraced Arteta’s ideas and is now a new player. Ben white has fully transioned from a CB to a competent RB. Sambi seems to be stuck in his Anderlect days.
Agree with most of the posts above. I could not understand why Maitland-Niles was loaned out when he could be a good squad player (DMF, RB and LB) while we held onto Lokonga who should at least have been loaned out.
Loan the kid out
Tomiyasu was given a chance, after being on the bench for a while, against Manchester Utd. at home and Manchester City away; and slotted in very well. I am genuinely fearful for White’s place in the first team.
So this argument, while prima facie valid, falls away under scrutiny.