Lokonga praises Vieira role in deadline day Crystal Palace loan move

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Albert Sambi Lokonga has said that Patrick Vieira played a key role in the Arsenal midfielder signing for Crystal Palace on loan in a stunning deadline day transfer.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the 23-year-old midfielder revealed that phone calls with the Arsenal legend were a deciding factor in Lokonga’s decision to leave the Premier League leaders to sign for Palace on loan until the end of the season.

Lokonga said on his dramatic deadline day loan move to Selhurst Park: “It was not easy [to leave Arsenal] because as you can see they are top of the league, but for me the important thing was the confidence of the coach [Patrick Vieira].”

The Belgian international added: “I had him on the phone and it was a good opportunity to come here, to show myself and to help the boys reach their objectives. He said to me ‘welcome’. He is going to push me to be a better player. I am looking forward to it.”

With Lokonga hardly featuring for Arsenal this season, a loan move was always going to be on the cards for the midfielder this January, and signing for Palace might have been one of the most ideal situations for the former R.S.C. Anderlecht talent.

Indeed, Lokonga is the first Arsenal player Vieira has signed on loan since taking over at Palace. And with the Eagles themselves having an outstanding record of developing players from Premier League rivals, namely Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher, there’s every hope that the Belgian could hit the ground running in south London.

Arsenal have pulled a blinder in getting Palace to sign Lokonga on loan

Many Arsenal fans might have been left disappointed with the signing of Jorginho from Chelsea, yet it will be hard to find any who will be annoyed with Lokonga joining Palace on loan, where the midfielder might finally get the Premier League minutes needed to reach his true potential.

The 23-year-old has shown glimpses of his quality in the last two seasons with Arsenal, and at a club like Palace and under a manager like Vieira, Lokonga will finally have the perfect platform to succeed in England, where the midfielder could return as a completely different player.