Arsenal's 'next Yaya Toure' sends Mikel Arteta strong message ahead of Southampton clash

Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has sent a message to Mikel Arteta ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Southampton.

The talented youngster took Thomas Partey's place in the starting line-up during last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Brighton, with the Ghana international currently sidelined for 'some weeks' with a thigh injury. Lokonga was often isolated in the middle of the park against the Seagulls and he will be hoping to bounce back if he is given another chance on Saturday when the Gunners take on Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium.

Now, the 22-year-old has taken to social media to send Arteta, as well as the club's fanbase, a message that he will not stop fighting for the team. His Instagram post read: "When it’s easy you don’t learn, You always learn when it’s difficult!

"I always learned when it was difficult." The Belgium international will be desperate to showcase his talent in the coming weeks, with Manchester City hero Vincent Kompany previously comparing his ability to Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure.

“I was watching football from different countries and I saw Sambi play his first two games for Anderlecht, then he got a big knee injury", Kompany told Rio Ferdinand on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel last year. "But the first thing I did when I saw Sambi was I went to Mikel, and also Pep, but Mikel first and I said, ‘You’ve got to watch this guy, he’s the new Yaya Toure’.

“And anyway, nothing comes from it, he’s got a cruciate ligament [injury] and then I end up falling into the management job at Anderlecht so I’m working with him now. I had the same conversation about him with Mikel, I still believe the same thing now [that he could be the new Toure].

“I’m not even sure I’m going to do him a