The Gunners, with Albert Sambi Lokonga, meet Liverpool tonight (8:45 p.m.) in the Carabao Cup, the last competition where the Londoners are still in contention. Can they eliminate Divock Origi’s Reds and continue their journey?
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albert sambi longa
“It really hurts.” These are the words of Mikel Arteta – relayed by The Team – after the elimination of in the 32nd final of the Cup against the historic but modest formation of Nottingham Forest (0-1), on January 10th. A defeat that came as the Gunners – club having won the Cup the most times (12) – had recovered very well from their disastrous start to the season and had a string of good performances (except for the very painful 1-2 defeat against City, conceded in stoppage time on a goal Rodri).
6th at 21 points from leader Manchester City, Arsenal can certainly continue to hope to play in European competition, but the title is already no longer possible. The Londoners nevertheless keep all their chances against a Liverpool against which they valiantly resisted in the first leg (0-0), suffering 17 shots. Admittedly, numbers don’t always tell the whole story when it comes to analyzing a football game, but here it is clear: Arsenal were outrageously outplayed. Arteta’s players only made 192 assists, compared to 683 for Liverpool. Let’s not even talk about possession: with 79 percent possession, Liverpool practically kept the ball for 4/5ths of the game. At this level, it is no longer luck, but rather a miracle.
Arsenal, as often, to hope to qualify, will have to rely on its young people: Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith-Rowe (uncertain in the previous match) or even the last nugget, Charlie Patino. Among them, a Belgian, who now acts as a manager: Albert Sambi Lokonga.
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Sambi Lokonga Albert
If the debut of the young 22-year-old midfielder who landed this summer from Anderlecht was noticed and welcomed, learning English football involves unparalleled roughness and intensity. It is not for nothing that in the midfield of Gunners, there are only two truly creative players: Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka (because yes, he is a midfielder).