Roberto Martinez has been speaking to Voetbalkrant about Belgium, and explained why Arsenal gem Albert Sambi Lokonga didn’t see any action.
What’s the story?
Well, the Spaniard seemed to suggest the £17.2m Arsenal man didn’t perform very well in training over the international break, hence his lack of action.
In fact, Lokonga didn’t actually play a single minute for Belgium over the international break.
Martinez said: “Some took their chance in training and others a little less. Wout Faes and Sambi deserved minutes, but others just a little more. Their chances are not exhausted. Sambi has made progress, but others may have shown a little more.”
We wonder what Mikel Arteta will think of these comments.
Belgium faced the Republic of Ireland and Burkina Faso in two friendlies, where there tends to be a raft of substitutes made as many are given opportunities.
Therefore, it speaks volumes that Lokonga didn’t play a single second.
In truth, Martinez can only go off what he sees in training, as the 22-year-old hasn’t come off the bench in Arsenal’s last seven Premier League games.
His last Premier League appearance came in the 0-0 draw against Burnley on January 23rd.
Albert Sambi Lokonga must use this as motivation at Arsenal
For whatever reason, Arteta has stopped giving the Belgian opportunities, probably because he doesn’t want to change a successful side.
However, Lokonga cannot just settle for that. He must use his international snub as motivation to knuckle down and perform even better in training.
It can be very easy for players to become disillusioned when they’re not playing, so Arteta must also work closely with the youngster to keep him engaged.
Hopefully, Lokonga can work his way back into Martinez’s plans ahead of the World Cup in November.
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