When you talk about the standout players of Arsenal’s pre-season so far it’s difficult to look beyond Thomas Partey.
Sure, Eddie Nketiah has impressed with two goals, while Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith Rowe has looked as good as ever, but the Ghanaian’s performances have been supreme.
After missing most of last season with various different injury problems it appeared as though we were set to finally see the player everyone knows the 28-year-old has the potential to be unleashed on the Premier League.
However, the fates had different plans and Partey was cruelly taken off with a nasty looking ankle injury against Chelsea on Sunday. All this creates the question, how exactly do the Gunners replace him.
The arrival of Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht may not have been the stellar name most fans were hoping for, but in limited spells this pre-season the Belgian has shown signs of just how good a player he can be.
Like Partey he is constantly looking to play the ball forward and has an eye for a defence splitting pass.
This was on full display against Chelsea on Sunday as the 21-year-old completed five passes into the final third despite being on the pitch, the standout of which was a ball to Eddie Nketiah that the Hale Ender flicked on to create a fantastic opportunity that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang really should have scored.
His ability to play through the lines and operate in the half spaces, allows Arsenal to make the most of the attacking runs of Kieran Tierney, who is at his best when sprinting towards the by-line to put in crosses when the game is in transition.
