Albert Sambi Lokonga explains Arsenal pre-season absence after pushing for exit
Arsenal want-away Albert Sambi Lokonga says that a "small" injury is the reason for his absence from pre-season training.
Lokonga, 23, was signed by Mikel Arteta for around £15million in the summer of 2021 but has since found minutes in the first-team hard to come by. The Belgian midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, a move which did little to change Arteta's stance on limiting his game-time.
Now that the summer transfer window is in full swing, Lokonga is searching for an exit route, with Burnley the most prominent club linked. But the ex-Anderlecht captain is currently sidelined, posting on Instagram after fans noticed that he wasn't in training.
"Due to a small muscular injury, I'll sadly not be part of the summer camp with the team in Germany," Lokonga wrote. I'm focus[ed] now on my recovery to prepare the season and be ready to help the team at my fullest capacity."
Earlier this month, the 23-year-old expressed his desire for a fresh start this summer, telling YouTube channel Wonhee Hyung: "I will try to go somewhere where I can play so that's the most important thing for me - to have some games and play game after game."
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The links to Burnley have emerged thanks to Vincent Kompany being the boss at Turf Moor. Manchester City legend Kompany gave Lokonga the captain's armband aged just 21 when they were both at Anderlecht and even recommended that former City coach Arteta should sign him.
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"I saw Sambi play his first game - his first two games - then he got an injury to his knee," Kompany revealed, speaking on Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with Five YouTube channel.
"But the first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel and said, 'You've got to watch this guy, he's the new Yaya Toure.' Anyway, nothing comes of it. He's got a cruciate ligament and then I end up falling into the management job at Anderlecht, so I'm working with him now, and I had the same conversation about him with Mikel, I still believe the same thing now."
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Arteta followed-up on his old colleague's advice and snapped Lokonga up. His first campaign in the Premier League didn't go well, though, and the once-capped Belgium international revealed to La Derniere Heure: "At the end of last season, I almost snapped.
"I called my agent to ask him if staying at Arsenal was a good idea. He comforted me in my choice, even though I know I need to start more often to develop."
Following those comments, Arteta was asked how he could keep players like Lokonga on side. "Play them and then let them speak on the pitch," the Gunners boss replied. "The best way."
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