Arsenal 4-1 Watford: 4 talking points from pre-season win

4. Albert Sambi Lokonga is Thomas Partey’s Partner

As it stands, that is.

Everything comes with the pre-season caveats but Arsenal have unearthed a real gem in Sambi Lokonga; an acquisition that will prove to be a masterstroke.

Watching Mohamed Elneny fumble in possession and no other central midfield signings in sight, come Brentford on August 13 if there are no additions by then it should be the Belgian getting the nod.

A bold claim, but looking across the squad there is nobody who stands out as the ideal partner for the Ghanaian more than Sambi. Welcoming pressure on the ball he never looks flustered and as someone to help Arsenal shift up the pitch he’s already shown more progressive positivity than Elneny has in five years.

Ideally, there is someone else. However, the season is little over two weeks away and it doesn’t look like anyone is going to be getting over the line before then. At least not in time to start. Sambi looks fresh, composed and, crucially, comfortable alongside Partey.

There is a fear that Elneny will get the nod if nothing changes yet the amount of minutes Arteta is getting Sambi and Partey to have together does hint otherwise. We know that the manager isn’t going to want to take huge risks at the beginning of the season but as it is opting for a Willock or Ainsley Maitland-Niles partnership feels like the less secure option. If either of them are even here, that is.

Sambi looks the real deal and even without a single minute of Premier League football to his name, if he maintains this level in his outings against Chelsea and Tottenham then there is no reason why he isn’t top of the queue come Friday the 13th.