Mikel Arteta has one valuable lesson to learn as £17m Arsenal flop ‘advancing’ towards exit

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One flop Mikel Arteta signing is now closing in on a move away from Arsenal in this summer transfer window. 

In general, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has maintained an impressive record in the transfer window. 

That is something that the Spanish coach must maintain, and even improve upon, this summer. Arsenal are seeking to strengthen their squad in a number of key areas, having been linked with a number of targets.

This is a vital transfer window for the Gunners, as the North London club are looking to overtake Manchester City and finally succeed in beating them to the Premier League title next season.

However, there have been transfer missteps in Arteta’s reign. The likes of Willian and Nuno Tavares failed to have a positive impact at the Emirates Stadium, for example. Albert Sambi Lokonga is another who can be included on that list. 

Arsenal paid £17 million to sign Lokonga from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021, and are now set to record a loss on the midfielder.

• READ MORE: All Mikel Arteta signings at Arsenal ranked from worst to best

Albert Sambi Lokonga set for Arsenal departure

Sevilla are seeking to strike a deal for Lokonga.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has now provided an update on the Spanish club’s pursuit of the 24-year-old: “Sevilla are advancing in talks with Arsenal over the signing of midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.

“The deal is understood to be an initial loan with performance-related conditions, which would permit the loan turns into an obligation to buy. Lokonga spent last season at Luton and has two years left on his Arsenal contract.”

Lokonga impressed whilst on loan with Luton last season, but clearly didn’t do enough to convince Arteta to bring him back into his plans.

The lesson Mikel Arteta must learn from Lokonga signing

When the Gunners signed the midfielder, he was young, and had never competed at Premier League level before, arriving from the top fight in Belgium – a significantly lower standard of football, with all due respect.

Lokonga made 24 appearances for Arsenal in his first season at the club, across all competitions. He was not ready to be relied upon so heavily, so quickly, and rapidly lost his confidence as he struggled to adapt to the demands of English football.

Arteta himself was a very inexperienced manager at this point, and mishandled Lokonga’s transition to the Premier League. The player has talent, and in another version of events may have made the grade in North London, had he been integrated more gradually.