Why next season is Folarin Balogun’s breakthrough chance

Folarin Balogun

Why next season is Folarin Balogun’s breakthrough chance at Arsenal

By Josh Graham

Folarin Balogun finally ended the will he or won’t he shenanigans by committing his future to Arsenal in April.

The 19-year-old forward penned a four-year deal has been at the club for a decade already.

His future had been the subject of plenty of speculation with talk he would move on to try and make his name in a first team elsewhere.

But after two goals and an assist in his six senior appearances, Balogun clearly sees his future under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates.

After Balogun’s deal was announced, Arteta said: “We have been extremely impressed with Flo this season. 

“He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us and we have been equally impressed with his early integration into the first-team squad on matchday. 

"He has given us glimpses with the performances and of course with his two goals already for the first team. 

“The hard work starts here for Flo and we are all looking forward to supporting and working with him in the years to come.”

Next season is key for Balogun

Balogun only has to look to Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to see how it is possible to go from bright young prospect to key starter in a short space of time.

The England Under-20 international has all the talent required to hit the ground running in the Premier League but must make the most of any senior game time that comes his way. 

And Balogun himself has admitted he is gunning for the first team next year.

He said: “My ambitions for next season are to make an impact on the first team.

“Bukayo and Emile have just shown me that if you stick at something for long enough, eventually it will pay off.

“I take huge inspiration from them. I thought both of them seemed ready when they were called upon each and every time.

"I thought they were definitely prepared, not just physically but also mentally for the challenges. So I feel like that’s something I've learnt from them.”

Folarin Balogun


Balogun is ready but he may have to be patient

New York-born Balogun may be ready to make an impact but it does not always happen for players straight away.

If Eddie Nketiah leaves the club then he would jump a place in the pecking order and be competing with skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and striker Alexandre Lacazette for the forward spots.

And without the additional games provided by European football - Arsenal failed to qualify for the first time in 25 years - minutes may be even harder than usual to come by.

But all it takes is one or two good performances either off the bench or in the League Cup and Balogun will be up and running.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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