Folarin Balogun’s future at Arsenal may be unclear at this point but the striker is expected to be part of the Gunners’ touring party that heads to the United States on 16 July for a trio of pre-season friendlies.
After impressing for Stade de Reims in France, where he scored 22 goals, Balogun has made it clear that he has no intention of embarking on another loan spell next season.
In laying out his terms in black and white, his comments have been viewed as a direct challenge to Mikel Arteta; either use me or sell me.
While there is plenty of interest in the 22-year-old from clubs at home and on the continent, Arsenal, despite spending £200 million in the transfer market, aren’t in a rush to sell and want to see how Balogun reintegrates in the coming weeks.
Arteta can’t and won’t guarantee playing time to any squad members so he’s keen to assess Balogun’s attitude in training as he adjusts to a new reality off the back of a season where he played 39 games.
Some reports have claimed that the Gunners will look to secure as much as £50 million if, ultimately, the decision is taken to sell. There’s also been speculation that Eddie Nketiah could be sacrificed to make room for Balogun. Both players are repped by the same agency.
Having recently switched international allegiance to the US, for whom he scored his first goal in the final of the Nations League Gold Cup against Canada two weeks ago, Balogun is sure to get plenty of media attention when the Gunners land in Washington for a showdown with the MLS All-Stars. It’ll be interesting to see how he copes.
For the time being, the striker remains on holiday – yesterday he posted pictures from a festival in Portugal – but soon enough he’ll be back at London Colney for medical checks.
The transfer window doesn’t close until 1 September – a lot can and will happen before that, including the Community Shield and three Premier League games.
Good, first of all if Mudryk is worth nearly 90 million than Balogun, who’s proven himself in a much better league, is surely worth at least 50. But I do hope he stays and competes for a place, without him I’d be uneasy about our striker depth, with him I’d be pretty happy about it going into the season. I think he has the talent to compete with Jesus for a starting spot, asking for guaranteed starts would be absurd and I hope he’s not really doing that, just put your head down and compete and you’ll do great young… Read more »
Yeah, I’m more and more coming round to the idea of him staying this year. But the elephant in the room is Eddie. We need to shift him and offset some of the money we would’ve received for Flo. People are concerned about Balogun being in the last year of his contract next year. But it is abundantly clear from this summers transfer fees that that doesn’t seem to really matter. If we can find an exit route for Nketiah, I’d love to see Balogun get his minutes. And there will be plenty enough of them to keep him happy.… Read more »
Pre season will show which of them is ready to play in the system, and arteta will likely make a decision then. My feeling is nketiah is less compatible with the current system, but we might have something new going this year.
I feel sorry for Nketiah. He needs to prove himself over and over. But then maybe there’s a reason for that. Maybe that’s because we all know, deep down, that as good as he’s been when called upon, he just isn’t quite enough.
He’s a fine player, but I don’t think he has the mobility and technical level required to play consistently in this side. Not just balogun, but young players like Edwards will be looking to step up in the coming season and will put pressure on eddie.
Last pre season Arteta played a 3-5-2 with Eddie next to Jesus, which we then never saw again during the season.
I expect Balogun to be heavily involved in the US tour (as well as Turner), but won’t take it as any indication on what the Premier League season might hold.
Check out the picture of himself he had tweeted Orr face booked whatever it is, dressed as a superhero and staying a new hero has arrived, Americas most expensive player. Get rid of the cxxt. The egotistical maniac. Really don’t need players like that around. That’s why Arteta wants him out
Confidence is important for a striker and dress up for a laugh is not an issue. Don’t call him a cxxt he doesn’t deserve that. He’s one of ours.
Don’t be a cxxt.
While I wouldn’t want to be a cxxt I’m not sure what it is.
Nations League, not Gold Cup but who’s counting. As a fellow American, I hope he earns his spot.
Yup, keep him.
I think he could be really useful. If he struggles for form/games and complains sell/loan him in January. It won’t hurt his value much. The world saw what he can do in the French league – teams are circling, they’ll still be circling in January.
100%
Really hope the rumours about selling to Chelsea are just that, I want the lad to succeed, but anywhere but that shit hole club
Chelsea are about to lose pulisic to Milan and will want an American face on their team before the world cup (boehly has rwpeatedly said he hopes to expand the American fanbase of Chelsea). If he wants Flo, the bidding starts at 100m, given what it will mean for commercial opportunities for that club.
It would be really awful to see him as a star with those fucks. We’ll see I guess…
Although I think there is a pathway to minutes at Arsenal if he works hard and takes his chances. I’d have him above Eddy to start the season just based on promise. And then if he excels he can pressure The Jesus and Martinelli for minutes. Neither can play every game.
Martinelli developing as a CF in the middle will be devastating. Will even be better than Flo. Martinelli for me is RVP on the pitch and more loved as a person.
He’s pretty freaking deadly on the LW isn’t he? Folarian is similar in style to Martinelli I think. I think between Jesus (first choice), Folarian, Gabby, Havertz, Tross and Eddy we’re covered up top.
Those two are completely different types of players.
Completely similar those two are
Thankfully right now I don’t think it’s possible for any player to succeed in that shit hole club
Honestly, why the f*ck would you want to leave the best young team in the world right now?
Selling him would be a big mistake. He has lots of talent and confidence. The guy did really great, 22 goals in a weak French team, imagine if he has around him Odeggard, Saka, Martinelli, Rice, and Havertz. He could be our 30 goals striker. I say give him a chance.
Flo in the future will reach at least Adebayor’s level and this is already something.
“In laying out his terms in black and white, his comments have been viewed as a direct challenge to Mikel Arteta; either use me or sell me”
“Arteta can’t and won’t guarantee playing time to any squad members so he’s keen to assess Balogun’s attitude in training as he adjusts to a new reality off the back of a season where he played 39 games” his attitude REALLY? please give it a rest, you’re turning into a daily mail in disguise.
Arteta can and does guarantee being part of the squad though (El Neny, Nketiah).
He did look good last season, but Ligue 1 made Lacazette look like a top striker last season. People need to calm on him, better to get 50m now than he comes back and people realise he’s about as good as Eddie and turn on him.
Makes sense to let him have some preseason games. It serves several purposes. The US fans will flock to see him, he gets a trial to show Arteta what he’s got and he puts himself in the shop window too. I’m hoping he does well and stays with the squad. Despite the potential money on offer, if he’s good enough we should be keeping him and playing him.
I know he played in the French league and against Mexico (they are awful) and Canada. Balogun was fantastic. The runs, the positioning, the strikes. Across two games 70ish in each everything was correct.
Of course the team will do what they must but hope they sell Eddie and keep Flo
Mexico are a fine bunch of players but have no leadership or management.