Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah was quick to issue teammate Albert Sambi Lokonga with a stern reminder that he was not the only one not in Mikel Arteta's plans last term.
The former Chelsea academy star has since gone on to establish himself as a vital part of the Gunners' first team, but at the turn of the year Nketiah was finding minutes hard to come by. It was a similar story for Lokonga, who endured a mixed debut season at the Emirates after arriving from Anderlecht last summer.
The fiery exchange between the two Gunners stars was picked up by the Amazon cameras as part of the latest 'All or Nothing' series focused on Arsenal's 2021/22 campaign. Lokonga was actually entrusted more than Nketiah last season, with 14 starts to the striker's 12.
Despite this, Nketiah showed enough of his talent at the tail-end of last season to warrant a new contract in the eyes of the Arsenal hierarchy and even managed to bag himself the iconic number 14 shirt, previously worn by the likes of Thierry Henry and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The conversation between the pair started when Lokonga refused to answer questions over his mood while eating at a table with Nketiah, Nuno Tavares and Emile Smith Rowe in the Gunners' canteen. In turn, it prompted discussion over how much the Belgian international's mood had changed since he first arrived at the club.
Lokonga explained the contrast in morale by admitting: "I was playing! [at the start of the season." The comment clearly got under his teammate's skin. Nketiah fired back: "So what my friend? You think you're the only man not f***ing playing my friend? Stop feeling sorry for yourself."
HAVE YOUR SAY! Will both Nketiah and Lokonga play more of a part for Arsenal this season? Comment below
Arsenal's miserable return in the cup competitions meant there was nothing more than the league to play for from January onwards. The FA Cup third round elimination at the hands of then-Championship outfit Nottingham Forest was a notable low point in the season.
It also meant that both Lokonga and Nketiah played far less than they may expected due to not quite earning the trust of their manager in the Premier League at that stage. Towards the tail-end of the season, ironically when the league reached its most important stage, injuries or loss of form to other players meant the aforementioned duo got a chance to impress.
Thomas Partey's hamstring strain gifted Lokonga a run in the team, while Nketiah dislodged Alexandre Lacazette during the crucial run-in that saw Arsenal capitulate with three games to spare and miss out on Champions League qualification.
