Arsenal played behind the doors friendly against Millwall on Saturday which they won 4-1 and with this game, fans also got a glimpse of their new signing Sambi Lokonga and they were impressed with what they saw.
The midfielder arrived from Belgian side Anderlecht a few days ago and got straight into the action. With the trip to America cancelled, the Gunners had to think quickly about making alternate arrangements and they did so with their London rivals.
Lokonga came on during the second half and formed a brilliant partnership with Thomas Partey which could be a sign of things to come. The 21-year-old immediately made his presence known as he made quite a lot of forward passes, many of which broke through the Millwall defence.
It was what the fans wanted to see from the new arrival, who showed that he could handle the intensity of English football. This performance led to a lot of praise from the supporters, and they showed it on Twitter.
Here are some of the best reactions:
Lokonga is a proper gem.
— Mert⚡🌌 (@MERT_AFC) July 24, 2021
Won’t lie Lokonga is looking decent, maybe he isn’t just a squad player
— ً (@AFCJake__) July 24, 2021
ARTETA ball is so good and lokonga in the heart of it
— Y 🔴⚪ (@Afc_ballteta) July 24, 2021
Lokonga plays a lot of progressive passes, nice to see
— . (@AFCKieran_) July 24, 2021
Lokonga is it as well
— C (@AFC_Carys) July 24, 2021
Lokonga looks great
— Lauritz🇳🇴 (@AFCLau2) July 24, 2021
Arsenal Fever View
From what we saw of Lokonga, it is clear to see why Arsenal were so keen on bringing him from Belgium. The midfielder is not the strongest but has an understanding of the game that is hard to teach. This makes it all the more important when playing in the Premier League given how fast-paced it is.
It is unclear as of now if the Gunners will be buying a more experienced player to partner Partey, with Granit Xhaka on the verge of exit. Despite the lack of European football next season, there is a good chance the youngster will be part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.
The Emirates club needed a player who can replace Partey or play alongside him when the situation arises. In the former Anderlecht man, the club have found a talent that can do that with ease.
Arsenal have another friendly coming up on the first of the next month against Chelsea, although there may be another closed-door game before that. Lokonga has proven that he can do well in a new environment, and we may get to see more of him.
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