What Lokonga will add to Arsenal’s midfield dynamic

Some would say patience is a virtue! Having engaged in grueling negotiations for a number of weeks, during which they had multiple proposals rejected, the summer recruitment drive is finally getting underway at Arsenal as they close in a move for Anderlecht star Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Reportedly recommended to the Gunners by a certain Thierry Henry, Lokonga’s talents are generating plenty of excitement in his native Belgium and even earned him his first international call-up in March. However, the 21-year-old remains relatively unknown to Premier League audiences, so what can we expect him to offer Mikel Arteta’s fledgling north London outfit?

Comfortable operating both in a pivot or on the right of a midfield three, Lokonga’s versatility could significantly change Arsenal’s central dynamic. The proficient youngster exhibits superior ball-carrying skills to the departing Granit Xhaka and frequently uses his impressive passing range to exploit the channels, with his average of 4.8 long balls per game last season (as per WhoScored) indicating he can unlock our attacking threat in wide areas.

In addition to his offensive capabilities, the Belgian international is also defensively disciplined, demonstrates great tactical intelligence and works hard out of possession.

What can we expect from Albert Sambi Lokonga ahead of his move from Anderlecht to Arsenal this summer transfer window?

Although not an enforcer by any stretch, he is nevertheless adept at defending spaces and cutting out passing lanes – registering almost two interceptions per 90 during the last Jupiler Pro League campaign – while his athletic frame and industry allow him to cover the pitch and quickly recover the ball.

Lokonga’s suitability to the Arsenal midfield is also highlighted by the responsibility Vincent Kompany entrusts him with at Anderlecht as, along with wearing the captain’s armband, he is often deployed in a deep, Thomas Partey-esque role to initiate the build-up play.

However, although his ambipedal nature and mobility enable him to evade pressure and take players on, his youthful exuberance means he sometimes takes risks and loses possession in dangerous situations, suggesting that his decision-making is still in need of some maturing and that he would perhaps initially benefit from a stint as Partey’s understudy rather than his partner.

As well as Lokonga’s undoubted individual quality, another interesting aspect of this move is how it exemplifies the club’s coordinated transfer strategy, with the acquisition likely to work in tandem alongside reported target Ben White. While the Brighton man is expected to function predominantly at the heart of defence, his competency across the backline may prompt Arteta to utilise him as an inverted full-back.

By tucking in alongside Lokonga and Partey in attacking phases, the resultant triumvirate will enhance our ball retention in midfield and establish a central foothold from which we can both apply sustained pressure to the opposition and reduce any gaps between the lines, with each player also possessing enough pace to mitigate susceptibility to the counter-attack.

Arriving at a club in the doldrums for a modest fee, and with any statistic caveated by his current residence in a much less competitive league, Lokonga’s impending move is unlikely to cause much hysteria among increasingly restless supporters.

However, from his ability to thrive in various roles to the encouraging verdicts delivered so early in his career, he appears to have what it takes to succeed at the Emirates and, at the very least, marks a promising start to a critical transfer window.