Albert Sambi Lokonga has been given around 200 minutes of Premier League action for Arsenal so far this season, being used more by the Gunners in the Europa League.
He hasn’t got off the bench in the last two matches, victories over Liverpool and Leeds United, and is having to be patient as he waits for Mikel Arteta to give him chances.
The Arsenal manager will surely believe his club are now in a battle for the league title, given they’re four points ahead of champions Manchester City. Arteta is not going to take too many risks and unless there’s injuries to key players, Lokonga will have to get used to limited playing time.
Despite this, the 22-year-old has felt in a position to publicly speak out about his frustrations with national team manager Roberto Martinez.
Called up for the friendlies against Ireland Burkina Faso in March, the Arsenal player didn’t get a minute.
In a recent interview with DH in Belgium, he made his feelings very clear. Monday’s edition of HLN quotes him as saying: “I called him the next day, I was really annoyed. For a moment I thought I didn’t even want to play for the national team anymore. I was disgusted. Martinez said that he prefers players who are fixed values at their club. He was not completely happy with my training either. I don’t think he can portray me as a bad boy who doesn’t work hard. That’s too easy.
“Maybe Martinez doesn’t believe in my qualities or doesn’t like my style. But I’d rather he communicate that clearly.”
It’s a gutsy step given his playing time isn’t exactly regular even at this point, and it may be a desperate play ahead of the World Cup.
