'He's got something special' - Arsenal boss on Balogun's form and plans for his future

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has given a hint that the future of Folarin Balogun will be decided at the end of the 2022/2023 season when his season-long loan at French Ligue 1 side, Reims, comes to an end.  

The Super Eagles-eligible striker who is the leading scorer in the French top-flight with 14 goal ahead of Kylian Mbappe has the most goals of anyone aged 21 or under in Europe’s top five leagues. 

Already, there are media reports that Arsenal could pounce on the opportunity to sell him to one of the interested clubs this summer but Arteta in his Friday's press conference stated that the club will have a talk with the in-form youngster. 

"The plan is now he finishes his loan period, we assess the situation, where he is, where we are. We sit down and plan the next chapter in his career," the Arsenal manager was quoted as saying by the club's website. "

On whether he's surprised by Balogun's form, Arteta, who had playing careers at Barcelona youth team, Rangers, and Everton, further added : "I am very pleased and when you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible.

"It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now, because the loan he is having now is really different to the one he had before at Middlesbrough,

"But that one was very necessary to see the outcome of what he is having now."

Balogun, who has disclosed that he is open to playing for Nigeria where he has his heritage, is also eligible to play for USA, his birth country and England where he was raised. 

Izuchukwu Michael

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