Albert Sambi Lokonga is not looking for a move away from Arsenal this summer, despite having barely featured for Mikel Arteta’s side this season.
That’s according to his brother and ‘unofficial advisor’ Paul-José M’Poku, who insists the youngster is more than happy with his first year at the Emirates.
Lokonga joined Arsenal in a £15.75m deal from Anderlecht in the summer, as part of the Gunners efforts to focus on young talent moving forwards.
He arrived with a growing reputation in Belgian football, where he had established himself as one of the stars for Anderlecht despite only being 22-years-old.
He’s seen his playing time drop significantly since moving to Arsenal, though, managing just 33% of the available minutes in the Premier League this season and featuring in the starting 11 just 32% of the time.
“We’re not worried,” he told RTBF.
“Other players like Kevin De Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku have also taken time to establish themselves in the English Premier League. The difference with the Belgian league is big, and Arsenal is not a mid-table club.
“We would have signed with both hands for a first season with 33% of playing time. And Albert is improving every day, especially in training.
“But the competition is tough in the team, with boys like Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka or Mohamed Elneny, and the coach must respect a certain hierarchy.
“He has so much talent; sometimes it seems so easy for him that maybe the coach expects more from him? He shouldn’t rest on his abilities. And maybe he needs to show more in training. I’m not worried, and neither is he.
“It’s (a transfer) out of the question, at least for him. He is very well integrated into the club and the city, he is happy, although he hopes to play more next season, and his potential would deserve it.
“And there will be European games. I talked to him on the phone on Monday; he was disappointed because, with the defeat in Newcastle, the Champions League has moved away, but there will be the Europa League, and he is positive about his season.”
