Folarin Balogun is gonna turn down an important contract bid from Bayer Leverkusen to stay at Arsenal. RB Leipzig have never been in the race.Balogun is now set to sign a new contract with Arsenal until 2025, the agreement is ‘imminentm as @David_Ornstein reported ⚪️🔴 #AFC https://t.co/T50NG53go4— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 9, 2021 Looks like hes going to stay at Arsenal.
Arteta sees Aubameyang and Lacazette both miss great chances last night, immediately signs up Balogun. I'm excited, anyway. Balogun really impressed me in his brief cameos, so I'm looking forward to more of him at Arsenal.
Boo. This seems like a we really like you but he'll be stapled to the bench because of more expensive players in front of him. I'm a doubter till Arsenal actually plays him.
Lacazette and Nketiah are probably gone this summer (both have contracts expiring in June 2022). Arteta doesn't seem to like Martinelli, and Aubameyang is primarily a winger these days, so there should be plenty of minutes up for grabs, absent a big summer signing. I totally get the skepticism though. I'll be curious to see how much time he actually gets.
Scored for U23s: Three vital #PL2 points! ✅Well played tonight, #AFCU23 👏 pic.twitter.com/2SgINGil42— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) April 12, 2021
Balogun on the bench for the Europa League quarterfinal vs Slavia Praha. First leg was 1-1. 12 man bench, but five subs, and I could see him as the third or so attacking sub if needed given the personnel on the bench. Play the man! Yunus, text the man about how much fun the USMNT is!
Don't know if this makes him more or less likely to play, but awesome Saka blast off the post produces an easy rebound for Smith-Rowe to put in while the keeper was out of position trying to save the initial shot. Arsenal up 1-0 (VAR pending).
And a penalty two minutes later for 2-0. For the record, Arsenal scored twice before the TV coverage got around to showing just how close the initial offside call on the disallowed goal was.
3-0 - Arsenal scored three goals and had a fourth disallowed in the span of seven minutes. Slavia Praha about to use their fifth sub in the 65th minute. Arteta has yet to go to his bench, which I am currently finding super annoying.
Playing right wing. Got a couple touches under pressure, but ball knocked away out of bounds by the defender.
Starts for U23s: ✅ Introducing your #AFCU23 team news... Marcelo Flores makes his debut, while Omar Rekik is named in his first matchday squad 👋#PL2 🏆 pic.twitter.com/w3jyx3K2rC— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) May 7, 2021
With the talk about Balo moving up to first team next season and the team falling out of Europe next year, we likely won't have nearly enough money to purchase any real firepower in the offseason. Should put Balo in a good spot to get some reps moving forward. Maybe we'll even see more of him in the league now that EL is over and mid-table finish is assured.
Even if Laca goes, an upgrade at striker is like...4th or 5th on the priority list at most. No way Arsenal adds a striker worth talking about this summer. The CF hierarchy for 2021-22 feels like it'll be mostly Aubameyang, Martinelli as first backup, Balogun behind him.
Looks like he'll be spending the Fall trying to win a spot with the big club: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-folarin-balogun-first-team-24275917 Arsenal’s clinical youngster Folarin Balogun will reportedly stay and compete for a role as Mikel Arteta’s main striker next season. Balogun signed a contract until 2025 with the North London side late last month after a lengthy saga of persuading the American-born forward to stay.
Nominated for Golden Boy 2021: Golden Boy 2021 - 100 nominees. pic.twitter.com/iHSu6A17JK— Football Talent Scout - Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) June 15, 2021
🚨 Folarin Balogun has been promoted to the first team, full time. He will now wear number 26. Reports, @JeorgeBird.— Eduardo Hagn (@EduardoHagn) July 12, 2021