When Arsenal decided to buy Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht, the general feeling was that he would be loaned out.
The talent was there, but the youngster wasn’t fully ready for the Premier League, and while he was played there, he then lost his space as the Gunners improved and tried new things.
Mikel Arteta used him sparingly, which is why a deal was struck between Arsenal and Crystal Palace in January to send the player to Selhurst Park for the remainder of the campaign on loan.
The 23-year-old has since played in every Premier League game under Patrick Vieira, and is slowly becoming a useful player for the Eagles, who will have to wave goodbye to him at the end of the season regardless.
The aim is for Lokonga to still be given a chance at Arsenal; a team he joined with his eyes close when the move was offered to him.
This is what he told RTBF when asked about his exit from Anderlecht: “I wanted to leave. I deserved it given my season. I wasn’t pushed out. The club was even open to me staying one more season, but, for my part, Arsenal were an offer that I couldn’t refuse, so I said it was better for me to leave.”
