It looks like Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be unleashing Albert Sambi Lokonga on Saturday afternoon.
A wounded Gunners outfit welcome Brighton to the Emirates Stadium on the back of a 3-0 mauling by Crystal Palace on Monday night.
That defeat dented Arsenal’s chances of securing a Champions League qualification spot – not only because of the three dropped points, but the injury that came about as a result of the game.
Thomas Partey has since fallen injured since a thigh problem.
However, Arteta has effectively confirmed that Lokonga – who has started only one Premier League encounter in 2022 – will be replacing Partey against the Seagulls.
He told Football London: “He played quite a lot in the first part of the season but when you have no European football it’s more difficult to share the minutes. Great opportunity to show what they can do.”
There’s a lot of pressure on the Belgium international.
Partey has been a monstrous figure for Arsenal for much of the calendar year thus far and therefore replacing the Ghana international won’t be easy.
That being said, Lokonga, a £17 million signing last summer, showed a lot of promise earlier in the campaign and you’d hope that he can fill the void left by Partey.
If he can’t, well the Gunners – who are behind fourth-placed Spurs on goal difference – might just miss out on a top-four spot.
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