Andrea Berta has had an incredible start to life at Arsenal, but one of his summer sales was a disaster.
There are no complaints when it comes to the players Arsenal signed in the summer transfer window.
When it comes to sales, however, there are issues, the most prominent being Albert Sambi Lokonga’s exit.
Arsenal sold Lokonga for just £260,000, a fee that looks worse and worse as the weeks go by.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is becoming a hero at Hamburg after derby performance
There was once a time that Lokonga was viewed as a future captain at Arsenal, but things just never worked out for the midfielder.
In August, after a four-year association with Arsenal, the Belgian left, and it’s taken him no time at all to become a hero at Hamburg.
On matchday 13 of the Bundesliga season, Hamburg defeated their fierce rivals Werder Bremen 3-2 with a late goal, a match in which Lokonga starred.
BILD’s feedback was telling of the 26-year-old’s talent, as he was lauded for doing ‘everything right’.
Not only did Lokonga score, but he was, as BILD suggested, everywhere.
Hamburger Abendblatt called the former Arsenal midfielder a ‘boss on the field’, dubbing his goal ‘spectacular’ and his overall performance ‘outstanding’.
German media weren’t short of superlatives when assessing Lokonga’s derby display.
In Moin Volkspark’s match ratings, Lokonga was praised for a ‘sensational sliding tackle’ he made.
The same outlet stated that his ‘composure on the ball was remarkable’, making many wonder how and why Arsenal sold him for less than £1m.
Given that the Belgian is still only 26, there are further opportunities for Berta’s sale to look even worse, as Arsenal bid farewell to a top talent for peanuts.
Fabio Vieira also impressed for Hamburg against Werder Bremen
Lokonga wasn’t the only example of a poor Arsenal transfer on show during the Nordderby.
Currently on loan, Fabio Vieira also impressed alongside Lokonga in midfield.
Vieira hasn’t had an easy start at Hamburg, but he showed what he’s capable of in the derby, recording an assist and completing 91% of his passes.
While Vieira’s future is yet to be decided, having signed for Hamburg on loan, the match was an opportunity for Arsenal to reflect on their two failed midfield signings, with both players shining.