Folarin Balogun makes important Arsenal future claim

As Arsenal watch on with 15 first team players away on international duty, much of the focus has been on one of the club’s Hale End stars making his England bow.

Emile Smith Rowe earned his first Three Lions senior cap on Friday night as he came on in the second half of his country’s commanding 5-0 win over Albania at Wembley.

Qualification through to the 2022 World Cup is all-but assured ahead of the final matchday against San Marino: England need to lose to the European minnows, who just so happen to be the worst ranked team in world football, while Poland also need to beat Hungary, all with a seven goal swing.

It would be fair to somewhat confidently claim that England might stand a decent chance of finishing in top spot. But it’s not just the senior team who are vying for top spot in their group, as another Arsenal academy star is doing likewise with the England Under-21 side.

Folarin Balogun makes important Arsenal future claim after scoring his first goal for the England Under-21 side

A fixture that Smith Rowe would surely have been part of otherwise, Lee Carsley’s side ran out 3-1 winners over the Czech Republic to move them within two points of the group leaders with a game in hand. There are six matches of the campaign remaining as they aim to book their place in Euro 2023.

Everton midfielder Anthony Gordon scored twice in the first 11 minutes, but it was the third goal that caught the eye in north London as Folarin Balogun netted his first ever strike for the Three Lions at Turf Moor.

It was a well taken goal from Balogun, who as usual barely cracked a smile, such is his calmness.

After the game he spoke to reporters about his Arsenal future, having barely had a sniff of first team action this season despite his promotion from up into the senior squad during the summer.

"“I do feel like I am ready for a new challenge but I am not sure what that might be, it might be a loan or if I am needed at Arsenal then I am here and the gaffer knows that,” Balogun said, via football.london.“I am definitely open to a new challenge but it is something that whatever that challenge is I will be ready.”"

It’s an important claim from the strike to make as he acknowledges the need to be playing ‘men’s’ football. As important as he is to the Under-23 side at Arsenal, regular minutes in the Premier League 2 are doing precious little for his development.

Having signed a new contract at Arsenal he understood the path laid out for him.

"“I know the potential I could have and that I need to achieve is massive. I haven’t achieved it yet. What I see now I would just describe as glimpses, things that need to be worked on and can be improved,” he added.“The performances I am putting in are all I can do at the moment. I know that I am going in the right direction. I know that I need to be patient and I have complete faith in the gaffer. Whatever the plan is I will give 100 per cent and I know it will work out.”"

What should Arteta do with Balogun? Loan him out in January. He won’t get the minutes with the first team even with Aubameyang’s departure for AFCON, so a move to League One or Championship level has to be on the cards.

Lower league teams are always lining up for strikers in the winter period.