Arsenal need to be doing all they can to keep hold of Folarin Balogun
Mikel Arteta needs to be doing all he can to make sure Arsenal keep hold of academy prospect Folarin Balogun
By Adam Le RouxFolarin Balogun is a man in demand, and he and his agent know it.
The 19-year-old has been the subject of many a transfer rumour already this season as he looks set for a move away from the Emirates, whether that be during January or when his contract expires in the summer.
There’s a list as long as your arm of clubs that are interested in the young talent, which proves just how much quality he possesses, but still Arsenal are willing to let him walk out the door.
Mikel Arteta has already been outspoken about the saga, as the Spaniard blamed Balogun’s agent for no new deal being signed, and turning the teenager’s head to look for a move elsewhere.
“You need three parties to make a deal,” Arteta said last week. “For sure, the club wants to make a deal, the manager wants to make a deal, the player wants to stay and I’m not sure about the agent.”
Maybe it’s a sign that Arsenal should have tried their utmost to keep him on their books long before his contract was due to expire, and with other players getting a taste of first team action before him it’s no wonder the New York-born star is getting restless.
Regardless, the Gunners should be doing everything they can to make sure he signs on the dotted line before the end of the season, or spend their time regretting the one that got away.
38 goals in 41 under-18 matches proves as much, with the striker having a natural goalscoring instinct, the rarest of qualities that you just can't teach.
The youngster has already shown us his eye for goal in the Europa League this season, with goals against Molde and Dundalk to his name as he gets his initial taste of first-team football.
Sheffield United were rumoured to be interested in the star over the summer, with the Gunners reportedly rejecting a £3m bid from the Blades, which made it look as if they were keen to keep hold of his services.
But it seems an unwillingness to blood Balogun into the first-team has cost Arteta and Arsenal dear, with the teenager getting itchy feet at the Emirates.
With Liverpool also rumoured to be circling around the striker, this could be the beginning of something disastrous at Arsenal because if players start to see what other opportunities can be afforded them they will have no hesitation in jumping ship.
But rather than blame the player, the football club need to take a look at themselves in this instance and reconsider their approach to young talent.
The striker could do little more to impress anyone watching in his brief cameos so far this season, with two strikes in a little over an hour’s worth of football, but still doesn’t get much more of a look in.
And with the Gunners misfiring throughout the Premier League season, they could have done a lot worse than throw on the hungry teenager when they are in desperate search of a goal or two.
Emile Smith-Rowe is the perfect example of how a player can turn it around if they are given the chance by Arteta, with the academy graduate really starting to flourish when given a chance in the attacking midfield role as we saw in the FA Cup victory over Newcastle on Saturday.
So, why then is Balogun not being given the same opportunities? Arsenal should be nurturing talent like his and honing his skills for the future, but instead they are leaving him to go to waste and it’s no surprise he wants out.
The 19-year-old has been the subject of many a transfer rumour already this season as he looks set for a move away from the Emirates, whether that be during January or when his contract expires in the summer.
There’s a list as long as your arm of clubs that are interested in the young talent, which proves just how much quality he possesses, but still Arsenal are willing to let him walk out the door.
Mikel Arteta has already been outspoken about the saga, as the Spaniard blamed Balogun’s agent for no new deal being signed, and turning the teenager’s head to look for a move elsewhere.
“You need three parties to make a deal,” Arteta said last week. “For sure, the club wants to make a deal, the manager wants to make a deal, the player wants to stay and I’m not sure about the agent.”
Maybe it’s a sign that Arsenal should have tried their utmost to keep him on their books long before his contract was due to expire, and with other players getting a taste of first team action before him it’s no wonder the New York-born star is getting restless.
Regardless, the Gunners should be doing everything they can to make sure he signs on the dotted line before the end of the season, or spend their time regretting the one that got away.
I can’t help Folarin love with you
First and foremost, Folarin Balogun looks like a talent and one that Arsenal could nurture to become one of the hottest strikers in the game in years to come.38 goals in 41 under-18 matches proves as much, with the striker having a natural goalscoring instinct, the rarest of qualities that you just can't teach.
The youngster has already shown us his eye for goal in the Europa League this season, with goals against Molde and Dundalk to his name as he gets his initial taste of first-team football.
In fact, the 19-year-old has only come on five times as a substitute this campaign, playing a grand total of 74 minutes, so to have already found the net twice really is something.
When you consider that Willian has played in 18 matches so far this season and still hasn’t found the net, Balogun’s goal return seems even greater and makes his omission from any Premier League action all the more baffling.
It must be disheartening for him to not be getting a look in when the Gunners play domestically, especially when players his age are taking to the field week in, week out.
Balogun must be scratching his head as to why he isn’t being given the same opportunities that Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have been experiencing, and it is no surprise that he wants out.
It is a sign of the teenager’s self-belief that he wants to move away from the Emirates in search of first-team football, as he obviously knows he can cut it at the top level, it’s just Arsenal who are yet to realise that potential.
Who else follows if Balo-goes?
Letting Balogun go either now or in the summer sets such a bad precedent at the club that it is almost essential to keep him on the books just as a matter of principal.
If Arteta and the powers that be allow a highly-rated young talent to walk out the door for peanuts, then what is stopping the next prospect to do the same? And the one after that?
He may only be 19 years of age, but the striker knows that he holds all the cards in the current situation with his agent no doubt feeding him advice that isn’t helping the situation.
Sheffield United were rumoured to be interested in the star over the summer, with the Gunners reportedly rejecting a £3m bid from the Blades, which made it look as if they were keen to keep hold of his services.
But it seems an unwillingness to blood Balogun into the first-team has cost Arteta and Arsenal dear, with the teenager getting itchy feet at the Emirates.
With Liverpool also rumoured to be circling around the striker, this could be the beginning of something disastrous at Arsenal because if players start to see what other opportunities can be afforded them they will have no hesitation in jumping ship.
Gunners need to give youth a go
Ultimately, it is a lack of first-team football that has seen Balogun and his agent start searching for pastures new with contract talks stalling as a result.But rather than blame the player, the football club need to take a look at themselves in this instance and reconsider their approach to young talent.
The striker could do little more to impress anyone watching in his brief cameos so far this season, with two strikes in a little over an hour’s worth of football, but still doesn’t get much more of a look in.
And with the Gunners misfiring throughout the Premier League season, they could have done a lot worse than throw on the hungry teenager when they are in desperate search of a goal or two.
Emile Smith-Rowe is the perfect example of how a player can turn it around if they are given the chance by Arteta, with the academy graduate really starting to flourish when given a chance in the attacking midfield role as we saw in the FA Cup victory over Newcastle on Saturday.
So, why then is Balogun not being given the same opportunities? Arsenal should be nurturing talent like his and honing his skills for the future, but instead they are leaving him to go to waste and it’s no surprise he wants out.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
