A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Jurgen Klopp suggests Mikel Arteta made an ‘interesting’ transfer decision this season and a Hale End gem is backed for big things.
David James makes a naïve claim about Arsenal in the Premier League title race
David James believes Arsenal are not in the 2023/24 Premier League title race as it is a two-horse battle between Liverpool and Manchester City. He is adamant that Arteta’s squad will not win the trophy this season as they have not beaten ‘anyone of substance’ but Liverpool.
The former Reds goalkeeper also feels their 3-1 win over the Anfield club came in a ‘farcical’ contest after Ibrahima Konate received his red card. While James believes Gabriel Martinelli also fouled Virgil van Dijk to restore Arsenal’s advantage by nudging him into Alisson Becker.
Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-1 at Emirates Stadium at the start of this month after Van Dijk and Alisson collided to present Martinelli with an open net. Bukayo Saka had already scored but Gabriel Magalhaes then diverted the ball for an own goal. Leandro Trossard sealed their win.
Yet, despite James’ naïve suggestion, Arsenal’s win over Liverpool was not their only victory ‘of substance’ this season. Martinelli also gave the Gunners a 1-0 win over Manchester City in October. But James is still convinced that Arsenal are not in the Premier League title race.
James has told GG Recon: “Even though Arsenal are banging in goals for fun at the moment, aside from Liverpool, I don’t believe they’ve beaten anyone else of substance yet.
“And when they beat Liverpool earlier in the month, I believe it was a foul on Virgil van Dijk for the second goal and the red card for Ibrahima Konate made that game a bit farcical.
“I believe it’s a two-horse race between Liverpool and Manchester City, with Arsenal making a bit of noise on the outside.”
Read more about what James has said about Arsenal in the Premier League title race, here.
Jurgen Klopp thinks Arsenal made an ‘interesting’ decision with Albert Sami Lokonga
Liverpool boss Klopp believes Arsenal made an ‘interesting’ decision by letting Albert Sambi Lokonga join Luton Town on loan. The 24-year-old moved to Kenilworth Road for the season last September. He has since held a key role in the Premier League around a hamstring issue.
Lokonga sustained the injury after just two outings under Rob Edwards upon him joining the Hatters. The injury also sidelined the Belgian until December but he has since regained a key spot in Luton’s line-up. He has also offered a creative touch from the deep-lying anchor role.
What Lokonga has shown at Luton has also reminded Klopp that he is still an Arsenal player. The Verviers native is under contract in north London until June 2026. But Arteta has started Lokonga in just 14 of his 25 top-flight outings for the Gunners across a potential 55 matches.
Klopp said, via Hayters TV: “Lokonga, when you see him playing and you think, ‘Oh – he’s an Arsenal player’, and they loaned him? Interesting.”
Read more about what Liverpool boss Klopp has said about Arsenal and Lokonga, here.
Swansea boss Luke Williams believes Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino will be ‘exceptional’
Swansea boss Luke Williams believes Arsenal loanee Charline Patino has the potential to be an ‘exceptional’ player. But the Hale End gem is currently struggling to hold down his role at the Championship team as the Jacks cannot play with his strengths in possession right now.
Patino joined the South Wales side on a season-long deal last August and has so far featured in 25 second-tier games. The 20-year-old has also scored three goals and has four assists. But he has only started 13 games and has not opened any since the middle of December.
So, to try and amend the situation, Williams claims Patino sought to speak with the Swansea boss. They even spoke for an hour. But the coach still feels the Arsenal academy talent is, perhaps, lacking the physicality that he is desperate to see from those in the Jacks’ midfield.
“He came to see me the other day off his own back asking if we could have a chat,” Williams noted, via Wales Online. “He was in my office for about an hour and he talks so passionately about football.
“Charlie sometimes, what’s in him – the passion and the love he has for football – doesn’t always come out of him. Just because of his personality, he can give [the] appearance of being very laid back, very calm and without intensity.
“But, actually, inside he’s very passionate, and has so much desire. At the top level of the Championship, the physicality is just mind-blowing. I think this is probably the toughest thing for Charlie at the moment.
“But I think if the team plays with control more and controls the game with the ball more, Charlie’s going to be exceptional. He has a way into the team. There’s no doubt.”
Read more about what Swansea boss Williams has said about Arsenal gem Patino, here.
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