Thierry Henry and Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal’s £17.2 million signing of Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht in 2021 has not yielded the desired results, with the Belgian midfielder confirmed to have completed a move away from the Emirates Stadium on transfer deadline to Hamburg.
This move marks the end of Sambi Lokonga’s disappointing spell with the Gunners, which was initiated based on the recommendation of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
During his time with the Belgium national team, Henry urged had Arsenal to sign Sambi Lokonga after working closely with him.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane and Gary Neville agree on key weakness that could cost Arsenal the title
Initially, Sambi Lokonga showed promise, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praising him as a “very intelligent player” who had been “coached well” by Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht.
However, Sambi Lokonga’s failure to adapt to the Premier League has led to a series of loan spells, including stints at Crystal Palace, Luton Town, and Sevilla.
The 25-year-old’s struggles to find his footing in the Premier League have been evident, despite his initial potential.
Arteta had signed Sambi Lokonga with an eye on the future, but the Spaniard quickly shifted his focus to more expensive arrivals, including Declan Rice and Mikel Merino.
Albert Sambi Lokonga
Albert Sambi Lokonga( Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Sambi Lokonga’s experience at Arsenal has been a learning curve, with the midfielder admitting that he didn’t regret his move but acknowledged that it hadn’t been a complete success.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE NOW ARSENAL WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
In a recent interview with Arsenal media, Sambi Lokonga reflected on his time under Arteta, stating, “With Mikel [Arteta], I learned so much, and for me, he is one of the best coaches I have had in my career.”
Despite this, Sambi Lokonga’s inability to replicate his form at Anderlecht has led to his departure from the Emirates Stadium.
While Henry’s recommendation was well-intentioned, it ultimately didn’t work out for Arsenal.
NEXT ARTICLE: Arsenal behind two clubs in latest Champions League power rankings