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3 reasons why Albert Sambi Lokonga did not work out at Arsenal
- Lokonga is said to be nearing a move to La Liga side Sevilla
- It will mark the end of a three-year stint in the Premier League
- The 24-year-old never lived up to his initial promise or price tag
By Kenneth Daly
3. Not a good fit for our midfield
Rawness was the first problem; his overall profile is another one and it now brings him to the Arsenal departure lounge.
Lokonga has a lot of qualities that made him stand out for Luton: he is an excellent passer, can resist the press and is physical enough to compete in midfield duels. But the Hatters’ double pivot (alongside Jordan Clark or Ross Barkley) gave him licence to take up that front-foot mantle to the neglect of any defensive duties.
In contrast, Arsenal deploy a single pivot and the #6 must have the stamina and recovery instincts (as well as the passing range) to cover huge swathes of the pitch and make a difference at both ends- something of which Lokonga is simply not capable.
Alternatively, our #8 slot requires a true offensive spark as any candidate here must make runs into the box and score goals in addition to doing the defensive side. Five goals in his entire club career (admittedly while playing as a deep-lying midfielder) indicate that this role is also not his true calling.
He could be moulded into a real asset, but right now there are too many boxes unticked and a lot of work would need to be done in order for him to become a viable option.
It is best to just move him on.
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