'We'll fight' - Arsenal loanee Balogun reacts after scoring on Ligue 1 debut

Anglo-American-Nigerian striker Folarin Balogun scored twenty minutes into his Ligue 1 debut as Stade de Reims suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hand of Marseille at Orange Vélodrome on Sunday night.

With his team trailing 2-0 through an own goal from Wout Faes and Nuno Tavares' brilliant strike, manager Oscar Garcia brought on Balogun in the 64th minute as he looked to add more firepower to the attack.

Reims had to dig themselves out of a hole as they were three goals down with fifteen minutes left.

Balogun showed his attacking instincts when he headed home in the 84th minute after a swing off the boot from  centre-back Leonardo Balerdi to cut Marseille's lead.

It marked the first time in his career that he scored on his competitive debut for a club, having fired blanks in his first appearances for Arsenal and Middlesbrough FC.

Balogun has taken to social media to react after netting in his first game for Reims, saying he was disappointed with the result and they will fight to return to winning ways.

The Hale End Academy graduate is spending the whole of the 2022-2023 season on loan at Reims and is expected to return to Arsenal next summer as no purchase clause was included in the loan agreement.

In their next fixture, Balogun and his teammates welcome Clermont to the Stade Auguste-Delaune II on August 14.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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