Why were Cedric, Lokonga, Marquinhos Loaned Out? Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Reveals

Winger
Leandro
Trossard
was
signed
from
Brighton
and
centre-back
Jakub
Kiwior
came
from
Italian
club
Spezia.
Arsenal
also
conducted
a
deadline
day
business
as
Italian
midfielder
Jorginho
was
signed
on
a
permanent
deal
from
London
rivals
Chelsea.

But
along
with
the
arrivals,
there
were
some
departures
as
well.
Many
fringe
players,
who
haven’t
been
involved
in
the
first-team
proceedings
so
far
this
season,
were
sent
out
on
loan
to
various
clubs
for
game
time.

Belgian
midfielder
Albert
Sambi
Lokonga
was
loaned
to
Crystal
Palace,
while
forward
Marquinhos
joined
Championship
side
Norwich
on
loan.
Portuguese
right-back
Cedric
Soares
also
left
the
club
on
loan
to
Fulham
till
the
end
of
the
season.

With
some
shortage
in
midfield
options
due
to
Thomas
Partey,
Mohamed
Elneny
and
Emile
Smith
Rowe’s
injury
concerns,
it
can
bite
back
the
Gunners
during
the
flag
end
of
the
season.
Arsenal
manager
Mikel
Arteta
was
asked
the
question
ahead
of
their
trip
to
Everton,
and
the
Spanish
manager
replied
to
that.

Belgian
midfielder
Sambi
Lokonga
has
struggled
since
his
arrival
at
Arsenal.
He
hasn’t
established
himself
as
a
regular
and
a
loan
move
can
be
perfect
for
him.

????⚪️
|
????:
Patrick
Vieira
on
signing
Sambi
Lokonga
on
loan
????????

“Edu
really
gave
me
the
picture
about
the
player
on
the
field
and
off
the
field.
We
know
what
kind
of
player
we’re
taking
and
which
side
of
the
game
he
needs
to
improve.
He
is
a
player
who
will
help
us.”

#AFC
#CPFC
pic.twitter.com/v5zwRE53oI

—
Punch
Drunk
Arsenal
(@PunchDrunkAFC)

February
4,
2023

“Sambi
needed
time
and
games
to
develop
the
talent
that
he
has,
and
I
think
in
Palace
we
have
found
the
right
club
with
the
right
coaching
staff
so
we
believe
that
will
work
out,”
Arteta
said.

The
Spanish
manager
believes
youngster
Marquinhos
will
have
his
work
cut
out
in
the
2nd
division
as
he
headed
to
Norwich.

“Marquinhos
needed
minutes
and
it
is
going
to
be
a
really
tough
but
really
good
test
for
him
to
play
in
that
league
with
a
great
club,”
he
added.

Another
outgoing
player
Cedric
Soares
has
also
been
a
peripheral
member
of
the
Arsenal
setup.
With
Ben
White’s
emergence
at
the
right-back
position,
Cedric
has
found
himself
further
down
the
pecking
order,
making
just
two
league
appearances
thus
far
this
campaign.

New
chapter
⚫️⚪️
Ready
to
give
100%
for
this
historic
club!
????????

#FFC
pic.twitter.com/qssXO0CA7q

—
Cédric
Soares
(@OficialCedric)

February
1,
2023

“With
Cedric
he
was
demanding
minutes
and
it
was
difficult
to
promise
that
to
him.
He
is
a
player
we
all
love
and
it
has
been
a
difficult
decision
to
let
him
go,
but
we
have
to
respect
his
will
to
play,” Arteta
concluded.

Arsenal
are
currently
at
the
top
of
the
Premier
League
table
with
a
5-point
lead
over
2nd
placed
Manchester
City.
The
Gunners
will
be
travelling
to
Everton
on
Saturday
(February
4).