Arsenal make Folarin Balogun future decision

With a million and one things to do (rough estimate) over the course of the summer, Arsenal appear to have made a decision on their current centre-forward issue, with Folarin Balogun set to remain in north London next season and compete for a place in the first team.

So much has gone on in just a few short weeks before the window has even opened that the striker situation has been left majorly untouched. Goalkeeping dilemmas have arisen as have failed forward reinforcements, while the midfield is set for a considerable overhaul on top of that.

Up front there are still numerous unanswered questions. Eddie Nketiah looks destined to leave this window after falling out of favour under Mikel Arteta, and while there is still plenty of time left for a buyer to be found, as of yet there are no concrete leads.

As for Alexandre Lacazette, this contract situation still hangs over his and the club’s head as a call  on whether to sell him or keep him on for longer remains up in the air.

Arsenal make Folarin Balogun transfer decision with striker to stay in summer transfer window and compete for first team place

However, there appears to have been some movement on that front if Folarin Balogun’s immediate future is anything to go by. As per football.london’s Chris Wheatley, the expectation is now that the youngster will stay and fight for a first team role next season.

Just as with the majority of the squad and those away on loan, Balogun will be assessed during pre-season and ‘compete for a place with the rest’.

On the basis that Nketiah leaves as expected, it would mean Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Balogun, Lacazette and Gabriel Martinelli would compete for the centre-forward role. With the Brazilian being moulded into a striker, or at least someone who can operate there, there is less need for Lacazette.

Aubameyang will lead the line across the 38-game Premier League season, with Martinelli and Balogun likely to share the roles in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and in case of the captain’s injury absence. If a loan was on the cards for Balogun then Lacazette would surely have stayed, and if not another centre-forward purchased.

Odsonne Edouard’s impending move to Leicester could have had some impact in the decision, although Balogun’s desire for a clear pathway to the first team may well have included him hanging around the Emirates next season.

Speculation aside, it does signal that Lacazette will be moved on, as well as Arteta having huge faith in the 19-year-old striker.

What happens if Aubameyang does get injured? An untested Balogun and an inexperienced Martinelli will be the striker options, two players still under 20 years old. The reassuring aspect is that the captain has a flawless injury record anyway, and that both other options are wonderfully talented. There is even scope for Nicolas Pepe to move to centre-forward, a la Marcelo Bielsa.

Will Balogun benefit from being with the first team for an entire campaign? Absolutely, although he will surely gain more from playing weekly senior football. For his development, 30+ games at a decent level would surely be preferable.

The caveat is, of course, that Arsenal would need to sign another striker, and with so much to deal with this summer – finance related and in terms of availability – it’s understandable that it’s not the priority.