Former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany is full of praise for new Arsenal signing Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The 22-year-old joined the north London club last summer from Belgian side Anderlecht for around £15m and has started the new campaign brilliantly, making the most of his chances.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, Kompany said that he was mightily impressed by Sambi Lokonga’s talent after watching him for the very time and immediately told current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta about the midfielder’s undeniable quality.
The Anderlecht manager further claims that the Belgian has similar attributes to former Manchester City star Yaya Toure, in terms of passing efficiency and the ability to dribble past the opposition defenders in tight areas. He said:
“I was watching football from different countries, different places. And I saw Sambi play his first game – his first two games – then he got an injury to his knee. But the first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel and said, ‘You’ve got to watch this guy, he’s the new Yaya Toure’.
“The point is you need players who are not afraid to have the ball when the going gets tough. As a centre-back, your job stops at a certain point on the ball. And you need to be able to give it to people who see the next pass, see the next move, take responsibility, take people on and put that tempo in when there’s no tempo in the game anymore. For me, that’s what Sambi has that makes him special.”
Arsenal Fever View:
Sambi Lokonga is a great acquisition for Arsenal and the midfielder has already showcased glimpses of his immense quality. He also has the ability to become an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s system for years to come.
The 22-year-old can provide threading passes between the lines and also has an eye for long-range passing. He is quick and never shies to take responsibility in the middle of the park. The Belgian’s tenacity might help the Gunners boss to implement a high-pressing system.
Lokonga was the captain of his former side Anderlecht and the midfielder’s leadership quality could be an important factor in the dressing room.
Meanwhile, after achieving 20 points out of a possible 24 in the Premier League, Arsenal will be looking to keep their unbeaten run going. However, it will not be easy as they will have to encounter Liverpool on Saturday.
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