'Next Yaya Toure' tells Mikel Arteta he's desperate to play for Arsenal next season
Mikel Arteta has a plethora of talented midfielders to choose from at Arsenal, but one he has shipped off on loan to Luton has admitted he wants to give the Gunners another go
Albert Sambi Lokonga has made it clear he wants to try and revive his flatlining Arsenal career despite being shipped out on loan to Luton in the summer.
The Belgium international was signed from Anderlecht for a fee of £16million in the summer of 2021, but has ultimately underwhelmed in an Arsenal shirt and never truly looked like holding his place in central midfield down in the long-term. He was tipped for big things, with former boss Vincent Kompany labelling him the 'next Yaya Toure' after his switch to the Gunners was announced.
Having struggled to get a game behind the likes of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka last term, Lokonga joined Crystal Palace on loan in January of this year.
Six months at Selhurst Park didn't seem to do the trick and after Arteta deemed the midfielder still not ready to play for a title-challenging Arsenal side, the Gunners boss agreed to send Lokonga to Luton on loan. Things haven't exactly gone to plan at Kenilworth Road either.
READ MORE: Amazon deals: How you can watch Premier League matches for free this DecemberREAD MORE: What happened to Arsenal's "new Yaya Toure" after being squeezed out by Mikel ArtetaAfter just three weeks as a Hatters player, Lokonga suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined for a significant chunk of the season. He remains out of action to date, but would have been unable to play in Luton's next game given it comes against parent club Arsenal.
Rob Edwards, Hatters boss, has made clear he'd like to keep Lokonga at the club on a permanent basis, claiming: "I would love to work with him for a longer period of time, but I don’t think that will all be down to me. He’s our player, but he’s obviously an Arsenal player as well, so I think a lot would have to happen.
"But when we get him back, we get him back strong and get him playing consistently, then hopefully everyone, all the Luton Town fans, can see his real qualities as no-one’s really seen it yet."
HAVE YOUR SAY! Does Lokonga have a future at Arsenal? Comment below
Lokonga is under contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2026 and has openly explained he'd favour a return to the Emirates. Asked if his dream wsa to represent Belgium at the Euros before reuniting with the Gunners, he admitted: "That’s the ideal scenario [laughs] but let me focus on Luton. The next six months will decide my future at Arsenal and with the national team.
"I don’t know what my future at the club holds. I feel really good at Arsenal. We’ll see what happens but as long as I’m under contract there, I will always fight to get back into the team. I still have contact with the Arsenal staff."
Unfortunately for Lokonga, Arsenal have strengthened their midfield options and considerng he couldn't get in to the fold last term, that changing now that Declan Rice and Kai Havertz are on the scene seems unlikely.
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