Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga is full of praise for Anderlecht coach Vincent Kompany.

The central midfielder made the switch from the Belgian side to North London this summer and he credits Kompany for his improvement that helped seal the £17million deal.

Lokonga told Sport Foot: “We had a great relationship, Vinnie and me.

“He had some players of which he asked for more and I was one of them.

“In matches, I knew I couldn't afford to be at the same level as the others. He wanted me always to do more, to carry the team both on the pitch and off it.

“It's thanks to him that I got this transfer. He never let me rest and without him I wouldn't have progressed so much."

On Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Lokonga added: “In real life, it's not exactly the same style of coach.

“Of course, there are a lot of similarities in substance. There is the will to find the free man, to function with short and quick combinations.

“There is also this desire to insist on the smallest details and then, more generally, what their playing philosophy.

“However, in the form and the manner of putting it in place, it is very different. Arteta is closer to his group.

“He participates in small training games for example, where Vinnie kept more distance. This is in no way a reproach, just an observation."