Albert Sambi Lokonga has been on the news lately, with the young midfield dynamo clearly stating his intentions to leave the club this summer in pursuit of first team football,

“I don’t know, I will try to go somewhere I will play”

“That’s the most important thing, to have some games and play game after game.”

Vincent Kompany, the current gaffer of Burnley, was the manager at Anderlecht where Lokonga was his captain, garnering 78 appearances in four seasons at the club, and was touted for great things. Sadly, Lokonga’s time at Arsenal has been underwhelming and featuring with his teammates in pre-season would have been a good platform to showcase his talents once again, as he aims to find a suitor to help him with his first team football quest.

Sadly, Lokonga will not be part of the Arsenal squad that travelled to Herzogenaurach in Bavaria, Germany, ahead of their preseason clash with Nuremberg this week. The midfielder took to Instagram to confirm his injury,

 “Due to a small muscular injury, I’ll sadly not be part of the summer camp with the team in Germany. I’m focus[ed] now on my recovery to prepare the season and be ready to help the team at my fullest capacity.”

For a player that was hoping to seal a move away from the team, this injury doesn’t help his cause and one can only hope he recovers in time as Arteta will need every man at his disposal for the pre-season tour and the campaign ahead. There have been loads of pictures on the official website, showing many players that are back for pre-season preparations, which includes Fabio Vieira, who suffered an injury last month that saw him miss the recently concluded Euro Under-21s Championships. It was good to see Kai Havertz bonding with his teammates, while one shot showed Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny, that have fully recovered from their knee injuries.

Emile Smith-Rowe and Nuno Taveres will not be part of this squad following their Euros Under-21s sojourns, but will be hopeful to be available with the team departing to the United States for the MLS Tour. Lokonga will be hoping to be part of that tour as well, as it will give him the chance to play with the team. I’m sure his agent is on the streets doing his thing and there is still a lot of time to seal a deal for his client.

If the rumor mills are correct, Lokonga is looking to be in good Kompany, as Burnley has been heavily linked with a potential loan move for the Belgian maverick. I’d take it with a pinch of salt till I get something concrete from the Ornacle himself, David Ornstein.

Sayonara.

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