Arsenal Loanee Shares Thoughts on Mikel Arteta and “Challenging Times” with Gunners
Albert Sambi Lokonga praised Mikel Arteta’s coaching style while acknowledging that he encountered some of the toughest times in his career during his time at Arsenal.
During the international break, Arsenal’s Albert Sambi Lokonga took a break from his loan at Sevilla to share his experiences with Relevo, reflecting on his time at Arsenal and working under Mikel Arteta.
“He’s incredibly intense and very honest,” Lokonga remarked about the Gunners’ coach.
“Arteta is the one I’ve worked with the most and learned the most from. He’s always available if you want to talk, but on the pitch, he expects a lot from you. That’s the only way to manage a team like Arsenal, where expectations are high. People are accustomed to winning, and that’s just how it is at Arsenal.”
Lokonga’s time at Arsenal wasn’t without its challenges, as the midfielder faced limited playing time after his initial season at the club.
“It was really tough because all I wanted was to play,” he confessed. “I think it was one of the most difficult moments of my career, but I learned a lot from it. All those experiences have shaped me into who I am today.”
His peripheral role at Arsenal has resulted in recent loan spells with Crystal Palace, Luton Town, and currently Sevilla.
Lokonga made his return to the Sevilla squad just before the international break, coming off the bench against Real Betis after recovering from an injury layoff.
This latest injury marked his second of the season, having initially suffered a setback during pre-season that kept him out of the opening match of the competitive campaign.
Following his return, he managed to make two appearances in late August and early September before facing another injury setback.
The hope now is that the 24-year-old can maintain his fitness and secure regular playing time. Sevilla holds a £10m option to buy in Lokonga’s loan agreement, but if he struggles to find consistent minutes, it seems unlikely they would choose to activate that clause.
During the international break, Arsenal’s Albert Sambi Lokonga took a break from his loan at Sevilla to share his experiences with Relevo, reflecting on his time at Arsenal and working under Mikel Arteta.
“He’s incredibly intense and very honest,” Lokonga remarked about the Gunners’ coach.
“Arteta is the one I’ve worked with the most and learned the most from. He’s always available if you want to talk, but on the pitch, he expects a lot from you. That’s the only way to manage a team like Arsenal, where expectations are high. People are accustomed to winning, and that’s just how it is at Arsenal.”
Lokonga’s time at Arsenal wasn’t without its challenges, as the midfielder faced limited playing time after his initial season at the club.
“It was really tough because all I wanted was to play,” he confessed. “I think it was one of the most difficult moments of my career, but I learned a lot from it. All those experiences have shaped me into who I am today.”
His peripheral role at Arsenal has resulted in recent loan spells with Crystal Palace, Luton Town, and currently Sevilla.
Lokonga made his return to the Sevilla squad just before the international break, coming off the bench against Real Betis after recovering from an injury layoff.
This latest injury marked his second of the season, having initially suffered a setback during pre-season that kept him out of the opening match of the competitive campaign.
Following his return, he managed to make two appearances in late August and early September before facing another injury setback.
The hope now is that the 24-year-old can maintain his fitness and secure regular playing time. Sevilla holds a £10m option to buy in Lokonga’s loan agreement, but if he struggles to find consistent minutes, it seems unlikely they would choose to activate that clause.
Source: https://dailycannon.com/2024/10/lokonga-arteta-arsenal/