A surprise regular during the first half of the season for Arsenal, Albert Sambi Lokonga has seen his time on the pitch dwindle since New Year’s.
The Gunners’ improved form has likely something to do with it, since Mikel Arteta will be reluctant to tweak a successful recipe, but with the 22-year-old wanting to establish himself in the Belgium national team, spending time on the bench at the Emirates isn’t going to cut it.
Lokonga was already warned last week by Het Laatste Nieuws that no gifts would be handed out by Roberto Martinez who, despite being a fan of the Arsenal midfielder, wants his players to feature regularly at club level.
In fact, the Spanish manager explained his decision to not hand the former Anderlecht starlet a single minute during the international break.
Relayed by Voetbalkrant, he said: “You shouldn’t see it as something negative. They deserved minutes, but I didn’t want to approach those two games from the point of view that everyone had to get minutes. Some took their chance in training and others a little less.
“Wout Faes and Sambi deserved minutes, but others just a little more. Their chances are not exhausted. Sambi has made progress, but others may have shown a little more.”
That will be a big reality check to the Arsenal player, who might have been eyeing a spot in Belgium’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar earlier this season.
However, something is going to have to change for that to happen, and while a permanent exit from the Emirates this summer will be off the cards, perhaps a loan for guaranteed minutes could be looked at if Arteta continues to rely on other players between now and the end of the campaign.
