Albert Sambi Lokonga's brother issues update on Arsenal star's future with De Bruyne claim

ALBERT SAMBI LOKONGA's brother has spoken about the star's situation at Arsenal.

Arsenal sign Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht

Arsenal star Albert Sambi Lokonga does not want to leave this summer and is happy with the game time he has had this season, according to his brother. Paul-Jose M'Poku, who plays for Turkish club Konyaspor, is also an unofficial advisor to his sibling and says fellow Belgians such as Kevin De Bruyne didn't settle in England straight away.

Lokonga joined Arsenal from Anderlecht last summer for a fee of around £15million. He initially featured more under Mikel Arteta than he and the Gunners boss would have expected due to an injury to Thomas Partey.

The midfielder has started 12 Premier League matches, however, only three have come since November. Mohamed Elneny has been preferred in recent weeks to Lokonga in Partey's latest absence.

But M'Poku is not worried for his brother and says De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku have shown that it takes time to establish yourself in the Premier League after moving from the Belgian league. He told RTBF: “We’re not worried.

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Arsenal transfer news Albert Sambi Lokonga Kevin De Bruyne

Arsenal transfer news: Albert Sambi Lokonga is happy at the Emirates (Image: GETTY)

“Other players like Kevin De Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku have also taken time to establish themselves in the English Premier League. The difference with the Belgian league is big, and Arsenal is not a mid-table club.

“We would have signed with both hands for a first season with 33 per cent of playing time. And Albert is improving every day, especially in training.

“But the competition is tough in the team, with boys like Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka or Mohamed Elneny, and the coach must respect a certain hierarchy. This season, the rotation has been very difficult because Arsenal don't played only one game a week on average

“He has so much talent; sometimes it seems so easy for him that maybe the coach expects more from him? He shouldn’t rest on his abilities. And maybe he needs to show more in training. I’m not worried, and neither is he."

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Arsenal transfer news Albert Sambi Lokonga Kevin De Bruyne

Arsenal transfer news: The Gunners are set to be in the market for a midfielder this summer (Image: EXPRESS)

Sambi Lokonga still has five years remaining on his contract at Arsenal. And M'Poku says there is no way he will be leaving this summer.

He added: “It’s (a transfer) out of the question, at least for him. He is very well integrated into the club and the city, he is happy, although he hopes to play more next season, and his potential would deserve it.

“And there will be European games. I talked to him on the phone on Monday; he was disappointed because, with the defeat in Newcastle, the Champions League has moved away, but there will be the Europa League, and he is positive about his season.”

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