Mikel Arteta believes Albert Sambi Lokonga needs more playing time to develop after the Arsenal midfielder joined on loan for the remainder of the season.
The Premier League leaders strengthened with the arrivals of , and , while Lokonga, Marquinhos and Cedric Soares were allowed to leave on loan.
Lokonga has struggled for playing time this term, starting just two Premier League games so far.
and Arteta is confident that the midfielder will improve under Patrick Vieira.
Arteta also feels Marquinhos is in for a ‘tough test’ on loan at Norwich City as the club seek promotion back to the Premier League.
When asked to rate Arsenal’s business in the January window, Arteta replied: ‘A really tricky one but in the end a really positive one.
‘We had three main key areas of positions we wanted to improve and we’ve done it. With Leo [Trossard] we bring a player who already knows the league, has already been performing at a great level, who had the versatility that we needed and adds and goals in the squad.
‘With Jakub, a young talent with incredible potential who’s going to adapt really well to our way playing and we didn’t have a back-up centre-back for the whole season.
‘With Jorg, a player who speaks for himself, you look at his CV, his playing record, his quality, I think we made some really good decisions.
‘As well we’ve offloaded the squad with three players, Sambi needed time and games to develop the talent that he has and I think in Palace we’ve found the right club with the right coaching staff as well, so I believe that will work out.
‘Marquinhos needed minutes, it’s going to be a really tough but really good test for him to play in the league in a great club.
‘With Cedric he was demanding minutes and it was difficult to promise that to him. He’s a player we all loved, it was a difficult decision to let him go but I think we have to respect his will to play.’
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