Mikel Arteta given dilemma as second Arsenal player declares they want to leave

04 July 2023 , 16:34

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Mikel Arteta given dilemma as second Arsenal player declares they want to leave

Midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has become the second Arsenal player to publicly state that he wants to leave the Emirates this summer.

Lokonga joined Arsenal in 2021 from Anderlecht, but has struggled for regular game time. He made a short-term loan move to Crystal Palace back in January in the hope of securing more first-team action, but only made a total of nine appearances.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to recently-promoted Burnley, having previously worked with manager Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht. And Lokonga has now confirmed his desire to leave Arsenal this summer in search of regular first-team football.

"I don't know, I will try to go somewhere I will play," Lokonga told former South Korean footballer Wonhee Hyung in an appearance on his YouTube channel. "That's the most important thing, to have some games and play game after game."

Albert Sambi Lokonga wants to leave Arsenal for more first-team football (Marc Atkins/Getty)

That could come in the form of a permanent exit or a season-long loan and Lokonga is the second player to publicly push for a move after forward Folarin Balogun sent Gunners boss Mikel Arteta an ultimatum over his future.

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Balogun spent last season on loan at Stade Reims, where he netted 21 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions, and has attracted plenty of interest from both the Premier League and abroad. And the 22-year-old has told Arteta to either play him or sell him.

Speaking last month, Balogun insisted he "definitely" would not be going out on loan again. "I'm not sure [about] the discussions that are going to take place," he said while on international duty with the USA.

Folarin Balogun has also sent Arsenal an ultimatum over his future (Dave Winter/Icon Sport via Getty Images)

"I'm not sure what's going to happen. But I'm just committed to now; I try to stay present. I obviously want to enjoy the moment with my team and my family. What I can say is that I definitely won't go on loan again."

Arsenal are reportedly asking for £50m for Balogun, with AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, RB Leipzig and Crystal Palace all said to be interested in signing the forward. However, ex-Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has urged the Gunners to keep hold of him, having witnessed Balogun's exploits in France last season while he was at Nice.

"I'm not the Arsenal manager but Balogun's very good," Ramsey told the Daily Star. "We played against him a couple of times and, from what I saw there, he's a very exciting player to have in your team. Arsenal have many great players but he's definitely got the quality. And, yes, he's good enough for the Premier League."

Matthew Cooper