Stay and fight for a place or push for a loan : Which is the best choice for Arsenal striker Balogun?

Arsenal's Hale End academy is one of the most consistent producers of highly talented young players in the world.

With the likes of Jack Wilshere, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Miguel Azeez and so many others coming through the ranks at Hale End, it is safe to say that the London giants have one of the best academies in world football.

Folarin Balogun, an Anglo-Nigerian striker, is one of the brightest prospects coming out of Hale End academy.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of the 2021/2022 season on loan at Middlesbrough and performed admirably scoring three goals and setting up three others in twenty-one appearances in all competitions.

The versatile striker who is also able to play as a left-winger contributed to Boro's seventh-placed finish in the championship with 70 points. However, having returned to the Emirates Stadium, what does the future hold for Balogun?

Considering the fact that Arsenal are short up front with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and now Alexandre Lacazette saying goodbye to the Emirates Stadium, there seems to be a chance that Balogun stays and compete.

But with the club being continually linked to the signing of Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus and contract renewal for Eddie Nketiah, that chance looks extra slim. Coupled with the fact that the Gunners have players like Saka Smith Rowe, Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe on the flanks, Balogun's chances next season may be extremely limited.

So what would be the best choice for Balogun? Should he stay and fight for a place? or should he push for another loan as it is quite obvious that the Gunners won't sell him permanently?

Allnigeriasoccer.com recommends a loan to a mid-table Premier League team would be better so that the youngster may experience consecutive Premier League games and get used to the rigours of playing regular senior football.

Staying at Arsenal would deprive him of the required game-time to develop properly. While the Gunners are in Europe again and would be involved in more games than last season, Balogun may not get more than 10 games which are certainly not enough.

Newly promoted teams like Nottingham Forest and Fulham are good options likewise teams that narrowly missed out on promotion like Huddersfield.

The Anglo-Nigerian should make the best decision for himself and push for another loan move.

Mayowa Sofoluwe

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