Mikel Arteta has blamed his predecessor for the situation around Folarin Balogun, whilst insisting that he wants to ‘give chances’ to the young forward.
The US-born youngster made his first senior appearance for the Gunners last night in the Europa League win over Dundalk, after a summer of speculation, where Sheffield United made a move to sign him.
The club managed to hold onto the 19 year-old, and are now looking to try and promote him into the playing squad, although he has competition in Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette for a central role.
The manager insists he Folarin is a player he likes however, and is frustrated by the situation which he inherited.
“He’s a player that I really like. Obviously, I’ve got this situation and I believe it’s later than what I would like because I wasn’t here when everything started to develop,” Mikel said after Balogun’s debut last night (via the Express).
“But yes, he’s a player that I would like to give chances to. That’s why he was in the squad today and I showed him that yes, we count on him and we believe in him and if he wants, he’s going to have a future in the club.”
Arteta seems to be keen on keeping the forward beyond his current contract, which is set to end in the coming summer, but how many opportunities in the remainder of the season may well play a role in negotiations.
How did you rate Balogun’s debut? Does he deserve to be considered for the first-team?
Patrick
If Arteta is blaming Emery for the Balogun situation, then who is to blame for the Saliba and Guendouzi situation. The truth is you can’t please everyone.
If we restrict ourselves to facts, below is what comes out of who is to blame about whom
> Balogun situation – Emery to blame
> Guendouzi situation – Emery/ Gue. to blame
> Ozil situation- Wenger/Ozil to blame
> Saliba situation – Aterta to blame
On Gue. Emery spoiled the kid and the kid got spoiled indeed. On Ozil, Wenger spoiled Ozil and Ozil got spoiled. Aterta messed up on Saliba but he admitted
I was always told that everything was down to Arsene Wenger!!!
At least Mikel Arteta has openly said he wants the player to stay – now it’s up to the club to make an attractive enough offer to make hi sign.
Decent debut. Not sure if he deserves to be in the first team. Need to see more of him to decide
he should be in the squad he is good enough if given the chance it’s a young mans game and if he is hungry enough take it with both hands Good Luck
We have to be looking to the future! Believe laca is not going to show anything more than we have seen. Remember those screamers he was banging in a season or so ago! Unfortunately those days are over. He maybe needs to move, go to another country where the pace and the game is different. Sorry folks we’ve seen the best of laca at arsenal! Looking forward toMartinelli return and from what I saw with Balogun he could be a future star! We need to play and nurture him. He has to get some game time, push nkietia or we have to shell out 70-150 million in a few years time.
Think about it, Martinelli, Balogun and nkietia push and fighting each other to be the no 1 striker!
A late entering mere 15 minutes hardly qualifies as a “debut” Patrick!
AT LEAST WAIT TIL HE HAS HAD A PROPER CHANCE. THIS IS LIKE THE MARKS AWARDEDPN THIS SITE TO PLAYERS WHO HAVE HAD APPROX 10 MINS IN A GAME NEWSPAPERS AT LEAST DO NOT MARK THOSE PLAYERS, CORRCTLY.
THIS SITE IS FAR TOO HASTY TO DEMAND OPINIONS WHEN WE HAVE HAD NOT CHANCE TO SEE ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE YET. Patience please!!!