Arsenal make Folarin Balogun January loan decision

Arsenal are busy preparing for Everton in the Premier League and one of the major talking points of the match is the form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Calls for him to be dropped from the team after struggling for meaningful involvement in matches other than contributing to a growing list of poor misses, the concerns over the captain add to the host of attacking problems in north London.

Nicolas Pepe can’t get anywhere near the team and is turning into an expensive cushion, Alexandre Lacazette doesn’t score and Eddie Nketiah is edging closer to the exit door after rejecting the latest contract offer from the club.

There is plenty to manage, all of which leaves an inviting door open for Folarin Balogun to make an impression. Arsenal may find themselves in a position where none of the aforementioned trio are here ahead of the next campaign and places in the team are up for grabs.

Arsenal make vital Folarin Balogun January loan decision as Mikel Arteta will allow striker to make temporary transfer move for rest of the season

One of those was taken by Balogun before the season began and he earned promotion to the senior group, only to then spend the first half of this season with Kevin Betsy’s Under-23 side. There his magnificent talent has stood head and shoulders above the rest, scoring 16 goals in 12 Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy matches this season.

A loan move in January has been heavily discussed by supporters and journalists who see his ability being above the level of Under-23 football, and while Betsy has insisted that Balogun has continued to improve since the start of the campaign, The Athletic have revealed that the decision from Arsenal is to find him a temporary move over the winter.

It’s a blow to Betsy, who loses his best player, but that’s part of academy football and this is in every which way the right decision for all parties.

There is an enormous amount of interest in Balogun from the Championship and across Europe, with Middlesbrough one of the sides pushing hardest to bring the striker in.

Next now is only to decide which environment, team, league and manager is best for him. With so many options available and the futures of Lacazette and Nketiah uncertain as they enter the final six months of their deals, it may be that Balogun leaves towards the end of the window, or not at all, depending on if the aforementioned pair leave.

However, Balogun has to come first as the financial reward from moving Lacazette on in January is unlikely to cover what he will be worth for the remainder of the campaign. Besides, buying clubs and the players benefit more from moving as free agents, so the most likely outcome is a loan for Balogun.

It’s exciting to see where he will go and then track his progress for the season. A top talent who needs to be out playing men’s football.