Why didn’t Arsenal arrange this transfer sooner?

The impact of the January transfer window won’t be felt just yet. Arsenal could cruise to a top four place and the decision making across the month will heralded as some of the finest ever, or points will escape them and they’ll be criticised until the cows come home.

Getting the final 17-game flurry off with a winning start away at Wolves ensures that any scorn will be temporarily put on hold, just as the victory bells are one step closer to be rung.

But there was one aspect of the January transfer window that we already knew the outcome of. It was pre-planned and on the cards about for some time prior to the turn of the year, and acted as one of the six departures Arsenal sanctioned in the window.

Folarin Balogun’s loan move to Middlesbrough had been in the offing almost as soon as Chris Wilder was appointed as Boro boss back in November. His long-standing admiration for the Hale End star had seen failed bids lodged to sign him permanently during his spell at Sheffield United.

Arsenal made a big mistake by not allowing Folarin Balogun to leave on loan sooner with striker settling into Middlesbrough with ease

That interest stuck with him and with a sea of Championship clubs lining up to take Balogun on loan in January, the Wilder connection helped him seal his signature on loan until the end of the campaign.

Boasting a 60% win rate since replacing Neil Warnock, Wilder has led Boro into the Championship play-off places, two points clear of seventh placed Nottingham Forest, meaning Balogun is in good company.

Balogun has had to wait for his first opportunity in the starting lineup since making the move, having had four substitute appearances prior to making his first league start in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Derby.

Across those 96 Championship minutes he’d laid off one assist already against Coventry, but he had his finest outing for the club to date with a performance Wilder stated that parts of were ‘fabulous’, particularly singling out his and fellow striker Aaron Connolly’s work rate.

Rounding off the victory with a stunning backheel assist for Duncan Watmore, it was a display that saw Flo also clock up an 80% pass accuracy, create two chances and have three shots. It was a strong performance all round from a player who is settling into life at the Riverside superbly.

So why not sooner? It’s frustrating to think how much Balogun has missed out on by being stuck in Under-23’s football for half of the campaign. Of course he’s only 20 years old, but already he’s recorded two assists in 186 Championship minutes and has wrestled his way into the starting lineup.

Had a loan move been arranged in the summer it would have fast-tracked everything Boro fans are waxing lyrical over now. While another temporary move in the coming season looks likely, even the additional six months he could have had in the second tier would have improved his overall game to open up other loan options.

This is clearly a lot of crying over spilled milk, it just so happens that it was…really good milk.

Best just to enjoy watching Balogun continue settling in up in the north east. He’s made light work of it so far.