Arsenal: Arteta provides update on Folarin Balogun future

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta addressed the media ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Leeds, covering a range of topics including the future of Folarin Balogun.

With January been and gone, much of the talk centred around the shrewd signings of Mat Ryan and Martin Odegaard, as well as the necessary departures of fringe, unwanted players and temporary switches.

Due to those movements, the future of Folarin Balogun was left largely unmentioned, mostly due to the striker being seemingly destined for a move elsewhere.

Into the final five months of his Arsenal contract, talks over an extension have been rumbling on well into last year, with no amicable conclusion met due to a host of reasons.

Mikel Arteta confidently claims Folarin Balogun will stay at Arsenal and sign a new contract

Arteta stated on numerous occasions his desire to keep hold of the 19-year-old, who has given a strong account of himself in the smattering of senior appearances he’s had in this season’s Europa League. Those follow on from regularly impressive outings with the Under-23 side, most recently being nominated for January’s PL2 Player of the Month.

However, the Spaniard has repeatedly mentioned the difficulty of striking a deal with Balogun’s agent, who is notorious for squeezing the life out of his client’s club and allowing discussions to bubble away until the very latter stages.

"“No, I’m still very positive that Flo is going to stay with us and it’s what we’re trying to do as a club, and it’s what I’m trying to do as a manager,” Arteta told the official Arsenal website. “As far as I know from last week, the player wants to be here, so I’m positive. I think he’s made some big progress in a few months.”"

The primary issue centres around Balogun’s wish to be playing regularly for the first team, with the consensus being that he doesn’t see a clear path into the senior fold despite Alexandre Lacazette nearing 30 and Eddie Nketiah failing to push on since his own breakthrough.

Is there hope? Arteta has oozed his confidence previously on the matter of Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng and Bukayo Saka’s contract extensions, so who are we to doubt him?

Whatever occurs, it needs to be quick as Balogun is free to speak to clubs across Europe and pen pre-contract terms.