Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Arsenal's decision to send Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga on loan to Luton Town surprised him.
The former Anderlecht man joined the Hatters for the 2023-24 campaign on the back of a challenging 2022-23 season, in which he only played a peripheral role for Mikel Arteta's side.
With Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka excelling in the engine room, Lokonga was largely restricted to starts in the group stage of the Europa League, but he failed to complete the full 90 on three occasions owing to underwhelming performances.
The 24-year-old subsequently left to play under former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace for the second half of the 2022-23 campaign, and he initially held down a regular starting role under the Frenchman.
Vieira's sacking and the return of Roy Hodgson preceded a downturn in fortunes for Lokonga, though, as he did not earn any minutes in Palace's final five games of the campaign ahead of his return to the Emirates Stadium.
However, since recovering from injury, Lokonga has shone in the Luton midfield alongside the rejuvenated Ross Barkley, starting each of the Hatters' last eight contests and registering two assists in the process.
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Lokonga's defensive contributions have not gone unnoticed either, and he was rightfully lauded for a heroic last-gasp block to deny Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to the Red Devils.
While Rob Edwards's side came out on the wrong end of the scoreline and now find themselves in the relegation zone, an eye-catching individual display from Lokonga saw him make four blocks, set up two chances and misplace just three of his 72 passes for an accuracy of 96%.
The Arsenal loanee will be expected to make his ninth successive Premier League start in Wednesday's clash with Liverpool at Anfield, and Klopp questioned the Gunners' decision to let the ex-Anderlecht man exit on a temporary basis yet again.
"[Albert Sambi] Lokonga when you see him playing, you think, 'Oh... he is an Arsenal player and they loaned him? Interesting!'," Klopp said at his pre-game press conference, while also waxing lyrical about his midfield partner Barkley.
"I think Ross Barkley is one of these nice stories, if you want, who really is back to his best – or better. Plays a deeper role, super discipline, on the ball very strong. Really, really strong and then the experience and all these things."
Lokonga is contracted to Arsenal until 2026 and has confirmed that he still wants to make his mark in North London, but a recent report claimed that the Gunners will look to sell him in the upcoming transfer window.
The 24-year-old joined Arteta's side in a £15m deal in the summer of 2021 and has made 39 competitive appearances for the club, but he is yet to register a goal or assist in an Arsenal shirt.
Ben Knapton
