Highly rated young striker Folarin Balogun scored a hat-trick of penalties as Arsenal U23s ran out 3-1 winners over Blackburn Rovers last night.
The 18 year old tucked away three spot kicks to enhance his burgeoning reputation as one of the Academy’s rising stars, but from a first team point of view all eyes were on Rob Holding as he continued his comeback from a cruciate knee ligament injury.
The centre-half played 63 minutes before being replaced by Joseph Olowu, and his recovery schedule appears to be well on track. The 23 year old has been in full training with the first team squad since the summer tour of the US, and has earmarked the period after the first Interlull of the new season as the time when he’ll be ready to make his comeback.
Chances are he’ll play some Europa League football first before being thrust back into Premier League action, but having picked up the injury in early December 2018, he’s almost ready to get going again.
Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe got 45 minutes under his belt as he makes his way back from a groin problem which has seen him struggle to play any kind of football in the last few months. He had a loan spell at RB Leipzig last season, but only managed three brief substitute appearances in the Bundesliga.
The midfielder could well depart before the end of the transfer window, with the club keen for him to follow in the footsteps of Reiss Nelson and spend a season on loan before coming back home to stake a claim for a first team place at Arsenal.
There is interest in him again from Germany, and the window there closes on September 2nd, so there’s time for him to prove his fitness to any potential suitors.
Balo-Gunner.
Technically he scored two penalties. The other he tucked away the rebound.
Great news that Holding is going to be back soon and is it just me or do we have a huge batch of attacking talent at the club right now? Saka, Balogun, Nelson, Nketiah, John-Jules. It’s almost as if the Arsenal coaches have created some kind of laboratory in which they’re playing around with the recipe for the perfect forward. A little bit of pace, a dash of dribbling, a pinch of finishing, three teaspoons of flair and creativity, all topped off with a knob of muscle butter. Then you just bake in the oven for 16 years and in… Read more »
I want some of what you’ve been smoking!!
You have been missed Pete <3
We’ve missed your rambling rants, Pete! Welcome back
I’ll smoke whatever it is your having.
Terribly missed Rambling Pete, LANS…. ?
That was utterly insane, and yet completely rational. Precisely what I come to arseblog for; not affirmations of shit we already know and can see with our own eyes, no, I want shoehorned Groening references. Though preferably with a happier ending ?
What’s not funny about otter testicles?!
Are you Charlie Brooker in disguise? You have been missed Rambling Pete.
‘Jurassic Bark’ was the episode name, and I too was distraught throughout the end credits (and for many days after). Really powerful stuff, poor Seymour ?
Nearly 20years and still it hits you right in the sad spot
https://youtu.be/AK3PWHxoT_E
Rambling Pete!!!!
The legend is here?
Do people still use FireWire cables?
Little bit of Ken M in there with our Pete
Oh, you’re back! I’m so happy right now it’s insane 🙂 Thanks, Pete
I want hover boards invented first.
Scientists are rubbish.
Wonderful to have you back, Pete. Personally speaking, I really enjoyed the procreation part of having kids. Everything else though, I’m with you.
Otter lunacy.
This is why you check every article on this site just in case…
Marvellous stuff. When is the Rambling Pete book going to be published?
Oh how we missed the, Sir Pete of the great ole Rambles
Wish I could buy a book of all Pete’s rambles, never fail to tickle me.
Is it just the pic or does this guy looks very strong for an 18 year old lad?
Looks like a good performance. Hopefully, we will not only produce the quality at this level but get at least a few players through to the first team squad on a regular basis – and then into the first team as regulars (the final, notoriously tricky, step). There seems to be a determination by the new management team to do this, which is welcome news.
It’s such a massive step up. Just the physicality of first team football. To show how far you have to come to make it, if you put Nelson and Willock back in the U23’s right now, they will look like superstars yet they are just scratching the surface of first team football.
I really hope some of these kids make it as I can’t remember a time when we had such a wealth of great academy players.