Albert Sambi Lokonga joined Crystal Palace on loan in January (Photo: Getty)
Albert Sambi Lokonga says the guarantee of minutes and the chance to express himself made his decision to leave Arsenal for Crystal Palace an easy one.
The midfielder moved from north London to south London on loan in January and has enjoyed a decent start to life at Selhurst Park.
Though Palace are yet to win a game in 2023, they and Lokonga have acquitted themselves well in their last few games, earning draws against tough opposition in the form of Brighton, Brentford and Liverpool.
In just four games, the Belgium international has played more Premier League minutes for Palace than for Arsenal this season, which is exactly what the 23-year-old was promised by Patrick Vieira when the Gunners legend signed him for the Eagles.
Lokonga was made available for loan in January with Monaco very interested in his services, but he chose to move to Palace on deadline day instead.
‘He [Vieira] was very decisive in my decision. I spoke to him and had a chat with Philippe Clément [Monaco’s manager],’ the player explained to RTBF.
‘Speaking with Vieira, he made me understand that I would get more game time and that’s what made the difference between Monaco and Crystal Palace. He promised me minutes.
Lokonga has struggled for game time at Arsenal (Photo: Getty)
‘If I wasn’t going to be given any, I would have preferred to stay at Arsenal. He told me that Sambi needed to be Sambi again. The one who plays forwards, takes risks, the one you no longer saw at Arsenal.
‘He wanted me to progress individually and that the team was lacking all my qualities. That they didn’t have a player like me in the squad.’
Palace had been missing a creative spark in midfield since Conor Gallagher returned to Chelsea from his loan spell last summer, and in addition to Lokonga also signed Naouirou Ahamada from Stuttgart for just under £10million.
Lokonga signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2021 from Anderlecht for around £17m but struggled to adapt to the English game, making just 14 league starts for the Gunners so far.
Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Jorginho remain firmly ahead in the pecking order, but Mikel Arteta will no doubt hope that he can return to the Emirates much improved after learning under one of Arsenal’s greatest every midfielders.
Lokonga should next be in action on Saturday when Palace visit Aston Villa, while league leaders Arsenal host Bournemouth.
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‘Sambi needed to be Sambi again.’