Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has spoken about his favoured playing position in an interview via the club’s official YouTube channel.
The highly-rated young Belgian joined Arsenal from Anderlecht in the summer and has mostly been used in a defensive midfield role so far by Gunners manager Mikel Arteta.
Lokonga himself, however, admits that, while he can operate in that number 6 role, he prefers to play more like a number 8 with more freedom to attack.
See below as Lokonga discusses his role and a number of other topics involving his move to the Emirates Stadium, such as advice from club legend Thierry Henry and how he’s settling in in London…
“That’s a good question. I like to be a No.8 so I can attack and I can defend,” he said in response to a question about his best position.
“More freedom, that’s what I like. But I also like No.6 so it’s difficult!
“I like both but the most important thing for me is to be on the pitch.”
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Wherever Lokonga ends up playing in the long run, it seems clear the 21-year-old has a bright future at Arsenal.
Arteta could do well, however, to think about using Lokonga in a more advanced role, particularly as that’s been a bit of a problem area for the Spaniard’s squad in recent times.